Nick Hockley has announced he will leave his role as Cricket Australia’s chief executive in March 2025 after five years in the position.
Nick Hockley, who has been involved in Australian cricket for 13 years in various roles, initially stepped in as interim chief executive during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, following Kevin Roberts’ resignation after criticism over the handling of the crisis, which included many staff being laid off.
He was officially appointed in May 2021 and helped the game navigate the challenging 2020-21 season with border closures, including successfully hosting the Test series against India, which was crucial for the sport’s financial stability.
“This was a tough decision, but after what promises to be an exciting summer and with our five-year plan well underway, it’s the right time for me to pursue a new challenge. This gives the Board plenty of time to find a new CEO to build on our strong foundations,” Hockley said.
“This isn’t a farewell yet, as I’m fully focused on the upcoming season and supporting the Board to ensure a smooth transition.”
Hockley’s final season will include a five-Test series against India and hosting the Women’s Ashes in January.
During his tenure, Hockley faced challenges like a dispute with broadcaster Channel Seven over a discount request, though the relationship improved, leading to a long-term partnership. However, the new seven-year deal with Seven and Foxtel in 2023 didn’t significantly increase in value.
He also managed a smoother Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement in comparison to 2017, resulting in substantial pay raises for women’s cricket.
Hockley dealt with the controversial exit of Test captain Tim Paine before the 2021-22 Ashes, transitioning smoothly to Pat Cummins, and a difficult split with head coach Justin Langer.
He attempted to overturn David Warner’s lifetime leadership ban, but Warner withdrew his case in late 2022 under pressure from an independent panel to revisit the 2018 Newlands incident.
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Nick Hockley oversaw significant on-field successes, including the men’s and women’s teams winning T20 and ODI World Cups, the men’s team winning the World Test Championship, and the women’s team winning gold at the Commonwealth Games. Notably, in 2022, the men’s team toured Pakistan for the first time since 1998.
One of his major projects was implementing CA’s Multicultural Action Plan to increase participation and attendance among South Asian communities.
“Nick navigated the sport through unprecedented challenges during the pandemic and achieved significant growth and stability,” said CA chair Mike Baird. “Under his leadership, several major deals are in place for the next seven years, setting the game up for continued success.
“As Nick Hockley mentioned, his focus is on delivering another successful summer for everyone involved in Australian Cricket. We’ll celebrate his achievements and legacy when he steps down next year.”
Before becoming the chief executive, Nick Hockley was the head of the 2020 T20 Women’s World Cup committee, which hosted a record-breaking tournament in Australia. He also worked on the 2015 Men’s World Cup and was involved in the London Olympics.
CA will conduct a global search for Hockley’s successor, though Todd Greenberg, the current CEO of the Australia Cricketers’ Association, is likely a top contender if he’s interested.
