NEWS SOMERSET APPOINT NEXT CEO

Somerset County Cricket Club are delighted to announce that Lee Cooper has been selected to take over from Guy Lavender as the next Chief Executive. Recruited by Novo Executive Search & Selection.

Lee Cooper has developed a very successful career in financial services culminating in his creation and building of Cooper Associates, a highly respected business. Lee has a strong association with Somerset County Cricket Club having represented Somerset through all the age group sides, as well as having a keen interest in professional and recreational cricket.

Commenting on Lee’s appointment, Chairman Andy Nash said: “After an extensive recruitment process, we were unanimous in our view that Lee Cooper was the outstanding candidate to take over from Guy. Lee’s commercial acumen, combined with outstanding leadership credentials make him ideally placed to take the Club forward and build on our success to date. Lee has a strong association with the Club having represented Somerset through all the age group sides and critically his passion and enthusiasm for Somerset really shone through.

“Whilst the Club has an existing commercial relationship with Lee’s current business, Cooper Associates, he will be stepping down formally from all executive functions at Cooper Associates to take up this appointment and we will elect a member of the General Committee to manage the commercial relationship with Cooper Associates to ensure there is no conflict of interests. Lee will be conducting a detailed handover with Guy over the summer before taking up his appointment in the later part of the season. I am sure all of us connected to the Club would like to wish him well as he takes up this immensely important and privileged position”.

Lee Cooper said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed as Somerset’s next CEO. My association with the Club has extended for many years and this is a role that I am extremely passionate about and one that I am very excited to be undertaking. The management team at Cooper Associates are very supportive of this move, and they’re well placed to assume my executive responsibilities which allows me to focus fully on taking Somerset forward into the future. I very much look forward to meeting all the staff and Members during my handover period.”