Professional Cricketers’ Association Announces New And Refreshed Group Board Members – 15/05/2009 Appointments will drive the organisation forward in rapidly changing cricket world The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA), the representative body for past, present and future first class cricketers in England and Wales, today announced three new additions to its Group Board. Vikram Solanki will join the Group Board in his capacity as the recently elected PCA Chairman, a position he will fill at least until 2011. Vikram is the current captain of Worcestershire and has played international cricket for England in both 50 and 20 over formats. Anthony Wreford joins the PCA as Non Executive Group Chairman. He has enjoyed a broad and successful career in advertising, marketing and communications latterly with the global advertising and marketing services group Omnicom. He has held several roles within the group and is currently Deputy Chairman, Omnicom Europe. A renowned strategist and commercially focussed marketeer, Wreford has worked with many international clients across the range of marketing disciplines over the last 35 years. In addition, Wreford has played club cricket at a high level and undertaken numerous cricket administration roles. He was a member of the main MCC committee for 11 years (during which time he ran the successful campaign to admit women to the MCC) and he has recently been elected as a Trustee of MCC from October 2009. He is also a Trustee of the Lord’s Taverners. Matthew Wheeler, who joins as Non Executive Director, has been a leading figure in international sports, marketing and entertainment sectors for almost 20 years. Until 2001 he was worldwide managing director of Octagon, the international sports agency. Since then he has worked extensively with private equity groups investing in and advising strong operational management teams in these sectors. He is currently chairman of Blues Clothing, the UK’s leading supplier of entertainment licensed clothing and BDA an international, creative agency that handles promotions and branding for broadcasters. During the early 1980s he was on the staff of Northamptonshire CCC. Sean Morris, Chief Executive of the PCA commented: "These are very exciting times for the PCA and it is critical that we have the right personnel in place to assist in delivering the considerable opportunities available to our members. Men of the calibre of Vikram, Anthony and Matthew will play a big part in helping us take this organisation to the next level. "Cricket is changing fast and has many challenges. With Vikram’s understanding of the modern game combined with the skills that Anthony and Matthew will bring in terms of commercial expertise, governance and entrepreneurial knowledge, they represent powerful new additions to the organisation. "I am very excited to be working with the three of them and look forward to them joining Jason Ratcliffe and myself on the new Board. I am confident we can deliver substantial benefits to our members and to the games other leading stakeholders."
