St. John’s, Antigua — Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced that Johnny Grave will be stepping down as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the end of October 2024. Grave, who has held the position since February 2017, has been a pivotal figure in the organization, leading through both triumphs and challenges over the past seven years.
In a statement reflecting on his tenure, Grave expressed a mix of gratitude and optimism for the future:
“It has been an absolute privilege to have been CEO of CWI since February 2017. Having just hosted a successful T20 World Cup and delivered significant surpluses for CWI for the third consecutive year, I do feel it is the right time for me and my family to seek a new challenge. I have received tremendous support from so many people since becoming CEO and I’d like to thank everyone, especially the staff and the players, particularly during the difficult Pandemic, for their trust in me and their commitment to West Indies cricket. My family and I have loved living in Antigua and will leave with many special memories having watched our young children grow up here. I have put everything into this role, and now is the right time for someone new with fresh energy to lead the organisation and continue this important work and build on the strong foundations that are now in place.”
During his tenure, Grave has overseen numerous successes, including hosting three World Cups, with the most recent being the Men’s T20 World Cup. He was also at the helm during the acquisition of the Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG), which has since become the headquarters for CWI and the home of the Men’s and Women’s Academies.
CWI President, Dr. Kishore Shallow, lauded Grave’s contributions, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and other significant events.
“Johnny’s efforts, particularly through challenging times such as the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as successfully hosting three World Cups including, the Women’s World T20 in 2018, the Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup in 2022 and recently, the Men’s T20 World Cup, have made a lasting impact on CWI. Appreciably, the organisation has taken many positive strides during his tenure. A standout achievement is the acquisition and full ownership of the Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG), which is now our headquarters and home to our Men’s and Women’s Academies. On behalf of the Board and all at CWI, I express heartfelt thanks to him for the unwavering commitment and leadership over the past several years,” Dr. Shallow stated.
As CWI prepares for this transition, Dr. Shallow emphasized the organization’s readiness to move forward with a new strategic plan and a renewed focus on governance.
“As we look forward to embracing a new chapter in the organisation’s evolution, CWI is poised to deliver the new strategic plan and enter a new era of governance. This transition reflects our commitment to adapting and innovating in response to the evolving landscape of cricket.”
CWI will soon commence a comprehensive recruitment process to select the next CEO, ensuring a transparent and thorough approach. Details on the process will be shared across various media platforms to keep stakeholders informed.
