Lawyer takes guard as chairman of Glamorgan Cricket
FORMER senior partner of law firm Hugh James, Gareth Williams, has been appointed chairman of Glamorgan Cricket.
Welsh-speaking Mr Williams succeeds Barry O’Brien who recently stepped down at the helm of the club following his appointment as a director of the England and Wales Cricket Board.
Mr Williams has been a practising solicitor for 42 years, and was the senior partner at Wales’ largest law firm, Hugh James, for 12 years before his retirement from the partnership in 2017.
He remains a consultant with Hugh James. He is also a non-executive director of Thomas Carroll Group plc. He has specialised in sports law during his career, providing legal support to the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) for 25 years and has been company secretary to the WRU for eight.
He is currently non-executive chair of the board of governors of the University of South Wales, a major higher education institution with an income of approximately £200m and nearly 3,000 staff providing education for 23,000 students.
Mr Williams said: “I am honoured to be appointed chairman of Glamorgan County Cricket club and proud to follow Barry O’Brien as chairman,” said Gareth Williams.
“Barry has played an integral role in strengthening the county’s financial position during his tenure and securing international cricket for Sophia Gardens. He has played a wonderful innings for the club and I look forward to carrying on his excellent work.”
“This club is at the heart of sport in Wales and has a rich history both on and off the pitch and it is something I want to see continue to grow over the next few years.
“As a youngster my summers were dominated by cricket and I spent significant amounts of time following Glamorgan. I am excited by the prospect of supporting the development of a successful team full of young Welsh talent.”
“We also need the venue to continue to thrive from a business perspective and I look forward to continuing to deliver on our strategy across all parts of the club in the coming years.”
The club’s chief executive, Hugh Morris, said: “Gareth has achieved much in a long and distinguished career and was the unanimous recommendation of the Nominations Committee to become the new chairman of Glamorgan County Cricket Club.
“He has a deep knowledge and understanding of professional sport through his role as a sports lawyer and in his position with WRU and has the experience to build on the outstanding work of Barry O’Brien and lead Glamorgan to a bright new future.”