ST JOHN'S, Antigua - The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) yesterday announced that accomplished management consultant Michael Muirhead has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of the regional governing body.

The Board of Directors approved Muirhead's appointment at a meeting in Barbados at the weekend. His appointment is for three years.

Muirhead holds an MBA in Finance from Georgia State University in the United States and a degree in Management Studies from the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus.

A Jamaican, Muirhead served as executive director of the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) of his native country from 2004 to 2006. Since that time he has been engaged as a management consultant involved with several high level projects in Jamaica.

His tenure at TPDCo was characterised by him having led the raising of the profile of the company and changing the perceived image among industry stakeholders.

President of the WICB, Dr Julian Hunte commented on Muirhead's appointment: "The Board is confident that the appointment of Mr Muirhead will ensure that West Indies cricket remains resolutely on the path to structured development and progress and that he is most capable of continuing the process of overseeing the implementation of the WICB Strategic Plan 2011-2016."

"Michael brings a wealth of experience in a range of sectors in Jamaica, is an accomplished, astute and measured executive on whom the Board will rely to execute its programmes and policies and further build capacity at the WICB Secretariat," Dr Hunte said.

"The interview panel was most impressed with his résumé, clarity of thought, broad understanding of the sport, communication skills and overall skills set, and specifically, his capacity for judicious management," Dr Hunte added.

Said Muirhead: "I'm delighted at the confidence that the Board has placed in me and stand committed to advancing the implementation of the Strategic Plan and the policies of the Board.

"West Indies cricket has been enjoying some recent successes and is now positioned to be a competitive force once again among the cricketing nations of the world. I will do my utmost to maintain and improve on what has already been put in place thus ensuring that we as West Indians can once again proudly hold our heads high," Muirhead added.