As Connacht enters a second year of Heineken Cup rugby, the new man at the administrative helm will be former cricket trouble-shooter Tom Sears.
The 43-years-old former English journalist turned sports administrator has been appointed to replace CEO Gerry Kelly, who retires after 13 years. Tom Sears will take up his new post in July after two years as CEO of Cricket Kenya.
Sears first moved into sports administration with the RFU and Northampton Saints before building a solid CV of commercial and administrative experience in cricket.
His first major entree into cricket was as commercial director for Worcestershire County Cricket Club before taking on his first CEO job with Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 2005. In both clubs he is credited with turning around their financial fortunes and restructuring their organisations.
He has also built a reputation as a man not afraid to make difficult decisions or battling against decision makers. More recently Sears, as Cricket Kenya’s CEO, was one of those who criticised the International Cricket Council’s decision to reduce the World Cup to a 10-country tournament in 2015. Kenya, like Ireland, is one of the smaller non-Test playing nations affected, and Sears is on record as describing the move as "a farce", saying countries "need to play at World Cups to improve".
Sears, who is married with three children, also spent two years as head of business development of New Zealand Cricket.
His appointment to Connacht Rugby comes at a time when the province is experiencing a boom in supporters and success following its first season in the Heineken Cup. Answering to the Professional Games Board and also to the Connacht Branch for domestic rugby, Sears will be expected to capitalise on the growing popularity of the Connacht brand.
Sears was interviewed for the post by a three-man committee comprising IRFU chief executive Philip Browne, former Connacht Branch president, Jim Foy, and PGB chairman Jimmy Staunton.
Tom Sears believes Connacht has enormous potential.
“ There is real scope to develop Connacht Rugby at all levels and ensure the province is at the forefront of Irish and European Rugby in the coming years. There is no reason why Connacht can’t develop into one of Europe’s leading sides and that will be our collective goal. To do that we must ensure that we are the best we can possibly be from grass roots right through to our professional side and we will look at every area of the game to see how we can achieve this.”
