Johnny Graves, the long-serving CEO of Cricket West Indies (CWI), has officially parted ways with the organization.
“It’s the right time for someone new with fresh energy to lead the organization and build on the strong foundations that are now in place,” Graves remarked.
He will step down from his role by the end of October.
CWI announced that it will initiate a comprehensive recruitment process to select the next CEO.
“I wish I could have done more to help CWI advance Governance Reform, implement the Weh by Report’s recommendations, achieve more progress at the ICC level with a fairer model for International Cricket, and secure new revenue streams for grassroots cricket, which is vital for the sport’s long-term health in the West Indies,” Graves (48), who has served as CEO since February 2017, told Cricpulse.
During his seven-year tenure, Graves made significant strides in improving relations between the board and the players.
Recently, he facilitated an MOU between CWI and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA), guaranteeing designated windows for players to participate in the IPL and CPL tournaments.
The agreement also ensures pay parity between men’s and women’s players by 2027.
Under his leadership, CWI successfully hosted three ICC global events: the Women’s World T20 in 2018, the U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2022, and the recent Men’s T20 World Cup.
His efforts during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic were widely commended.
In collaboration with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Graves spearheaded the creation of the biosecure cricket model, enabling the safe resumption of international cricket in England, the West Indies, New Zealand, and Bangladesh.
Graves also played a crucial role in fostering strong relationships between CWI, the CPL, and the franchises.
“Johnny’s contributions, especially during challenging periods like the COVID-19 pandemic, along with successfully hosting three World Cups, have left a lasting impact on CWI.
The organization has made significant positive strides under his leadership.
A standout achievement is the acquisition and full ownership of the Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG), which now serves as our headquarters and home to our Men’s and Women’s Academies,” CWI president Dr. Kishore Shallow stated.
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