Warwickshire have confirmed Tracey Orr will succeed Mark McCafferty as chair, ending his six-year stint in charge of the board. Orr officially steps in on 1 May, moving up from her current post as senior independent director, which she has held since 2023.
“I am delighted and honoured to be appointed as the new chair at Warwickshire County Cricket Club,” Orr said. “I have always been moved by the passion, enthusiasm and dedication demonstrated by everyone you meet since joining the club four years ago. It was this collective commitment from members, colleagues, players, communities and friends of this club that inspired me to want to lead it forward.”
The 59-year-old knows the West Midlands well. She studied at Aston University back in 1984, settled locally and spent three decades with Central England Co-operative. By the time she left in 2023 she was chief operating officer, responsible for 8,000 staff and turnover topping £900 million. Since stepping away from day-to-day retail, she has sat on the board at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, served as vice-chair of Ice Hockey UK and worked with the Civil Service Sports Council. Those roles have sharpened her experience of member-based organisations – a useful fit at Edgbaston.
Cricket-wise, Orr already sits on Warwickshire’s cricket committee, leads on the women’s professional game and is part of both nominations and remuneration panels. Her first major brief will be the next phase of Edgbaston’s redevelopment, timed to dovetail with the club’s push to integrate the established men’s squads, the newly accredited Bears Women Tier 1 side and the Birmingham Phoenix outfits in The Hundred. The Phoenix link gained fresh importance after last year’s equity deal that brought US-based Knighthead Capital Management into partnership with the county.
McCafferty, who is also vacating his seat on the board after nine years’ service, offered a typically measured farewell. “It has been a privilege to help guide this great club through the latest phase of its illustrious history,” he said. “For so many of us, Edgbaston and the Bears continue to create special experiences, friendships and lasting memories. As custodians of that responsibility, we seek always to leave the club and this wonderful venue stronger than before.
“I’m delighted that I shall be handing over to Tracey, with whom I’ve worked closely over the last four years. She has a wealth of relevant experience, coupled with a deep understanding of the region, and has already been central to many of our key strategies.
“With her background in membership owned organisations – she understands the important role that members play in the success of a contemporary cricket club. A busy few years lie ahead, and I know she and the whole board will continue to drive this great club forward.”
Early conversations inside the club suggest Orr’s business track-record and her perspective on women’s sport made her the clear front-runner. Members spoken to on Tuesday sounded optimistic yet realistic: steady governance, not flashy promises, will be the immediate expectation.
