ECB picks ex-BSkyB man as commercial director

The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has appointed Mark Sibley as commercial director.

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The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has appointed Mark Sibley as commercial director.

Sibley will take control of the ECB marketing team, replacing Terry Blake who has left the cricket board after 13 years.

An sports industry source says that Blake intends to set up his own company. Blake has not ruled out the possibility but is refuses to comment on his next move other than to confirm that he will remain in sports and media marketing.

Blake says: “I am in talks with a number of companies, but nothing has been decided. After 13 years I thought it was time to move on.”

Sibley was made redundant from his last job as head of cricket and rugby at sports and events company Octagon CSI. He had been responsible for the sale of international cricket games as well as football competitions such as the FA Cup.

Sibley moved to Octagon CSI in 1999 from the position of manager of sports development at BSkyB.

Sibley says: “It’s vital that the financial future of the game in England and Wales is secured, and I am looking forward to working closely with existing and new commercial partners.”

In his new role, one of Sibley’s first tasks will be to find a sponsor for the ECB’s flagship National Cricket League, which began last weekend. Previous sponsor Norwich Union decided to drop the competition in favour of its core athletics programme. The ECB is still looking for brands to sponsor its 20/20 Trophy.

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