Connacht appoint Sears as next chief executive officer

CONNACHT RUGBY has appointed former Kenyan Cricket chief executive Tom Sears to fill that role for the province. The 43-year-old replaces Gerry Kelly, who is retiring having served in the position since 1999.

Sears moved from journalism into sports administration in the 1990s and previously held roles in the communications and commercial areas for both the RFU and Northampton Saints, before turning his attention to cricket in 2000, where he was the commercial director for Worcestershire County Cricket Club where he helped grow revenues and sponsorship across the professional and community levels of the game, before becoming the chief executive of Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 2005. He oversaw its restructuring, finances and the redevelopment of its grounds.

Sears was appointed as the head of business development for New Zealand Cricket in 2008, where he again developed the commercial aspect of the governing body. His final move in 2010 was to Cricket Kenya as chief executive, which was again a development role.

“Throughout his career, Tom (Sears) has . . . shown his ability to develop and grow each professional sports organisation with whom he has worked,” said Philip Browne, IRFU chief executive.

It is expected Sears will take up his role in July.

“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,” said Sears. “There is no reason why Connacht can’t develop into one of Europe’s leading sides and that will be our collective goal.”