Lynch to depart PCA

The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) has today announced its Chief Executive Rob Lynch will stand down from his role in June with current Chief Operating Officer Daryl Mitchell appointed Interim Chief Executive from July.

Lynch will continue in his current role at the PCA until 28 June 2024, before taking up the position of Director of Cricket and Operations with the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).

Mitchell will be promoted in an interim capacity following a long association with the PCA. Initially appointed as a PCA representative by the Worcestershire squad in 2009, he was then elected Chair in 2017, a position he held for four years. He went on to be the PCA Director of Cricket Operations in 2021 before being promoted to Chief Operating Officer a year later.

Lynch will depart after serving the PCA for over four years. Officially appointed CEO of the players’ association in October 2020 following a period in an interim position, he initially joined in February 2020 as Commercial Director.

Lynch joined the PCA from Middlesex Cricket where he was the Chief Operating Officer, having already performed several roles across various cricket-based organisations.

His list of achievements at the PCA include navigating the Association and its members through the pandemic, the increased development of the women’s game, and working closely with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on England’s return to touring in Pakistan.

PCA Chief Operating Officer, Daryl Mitchell, said:

“I would like to thank Rob for all of his efforts and achievements for PCA members during his tenure.

“We are part way through a crucial 12 months for current players with several negotiations ongoing as the PCA represents its members. Having personally attended over 20 pre-season meetings with professional squads, we are well positioned in understanding what our members need to excel both on and off the field.

“I am incredibly proud to have been formally handed this opportunity from July by the PCA Board and through my experiences of leading the PCA as Chair during the previous County Partnership Agreement negotiations, I am confident we can achieve even greater advancements for all our members.”

PCA Chief Executive, Rob Lynch, said:

“Serving as the Chief Executive of the PCA has been the greatest privilege and challenge of my career. Representing the players is something I will cherish and the Association is in a strong financial position, and is set-up to thrive as the sport evolves at a rapid rate.

“The growth of the women’s game and equitable advancements, alongside the broader EDI perspective has brought immense and much needed challenge, with the PCA and player knowledge much better for this.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed working closely with the players and the wider game to progress standards for the benefit of our members.

“Thank you to everybody I have worked so closely with, including our Chair James Harris, Julian Metherell and James Cameron, the Board, Richard Bevan, Eoin Morgan and importantly the most dedicated group of staff I have witnessed in my professional career, they are a credit to PCA members and will no doubt continue to drive exceptionally high standards when I depart in late June.”

PCA Chair, James Harris, said:

“Rob has done a magnificent job in guiding the PCA through the past four years. He stepped up to the CEO role during the pandemic and brought stability when the Association needed it.

“The PCA will continue to be brave and represent its members in the strongest fashion as we evolve for the benefit of current and future professional cricketers.”

PCA Non-Executive Chair, James Cameron, said:

“Rob’s dedication to the PCA has been exemplary, not only to everybody within the Association, but also its members. I wish him all the best for the future.

“A smooth transition is of the utmost importance and the Board were unanimous in its view to appoint Daryl Mitchell in an interim capacity to guide the PCA through an important year.”