The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has appointed Christopher Dehring, Chief Executive Officer of Windies World Cup 2007 Inc. (WWC Inc.)

Chris Dehring Photo WICB

Currently the WICB's Chief Marketing Executive, Dehring will assume his new position next month and will coordinate the staging of the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies. WWC Inc. will manage the event in the Caribbean on behalf of the International Cricket Council (ICC), the game's global body that comprises 42 members, affiliates and associates. Formation of this special purpose vehicle will allow WICB Inc. to continue its focus on the re-development of West Indies cricket while also protecting that organisation from the substantial liabilities of hosting the event.

Dehring, who was seconded to WICB in 1997, will report to the board of WWC Inc. which will represent a cross-section of Caribbean stakeholders, including CARICOM governments and the WICB. An operating plan is being developed which will establish operating procedures for the new company and develop a blue print for new or renovated facilities throughout the region.

Localised management organisations will also be established in each territory that will host World Cup matches. These organisations will involve representatives of the respective cricket boards, governments, private sector bodies and the wider community.

Windies World Cup 2007 Inc., which will be a 100 per cent owned subsidiary of the WICB, will work closely with the ICC and the World Sports Group which has acquired the major commercial rights to the 2007 World Cup. From the outset, Dehring has been at the helm of the WICB's World Cup efforts, initially to secure the hosting rights of the 2007 World Cup for the Caribbean and including last year's successful negotiations with the global media conglomerates bidding for television and sponsorship rights for international cricket's biggest tournament.

Commenting on the appointment of a CEO, Seamus O'Brien, Managing Director of World Sports Group, said: "We are pleased that the WICB has started preparations early which should make the challenging task ahead more manageable. We already enjoy a good working relationship with Mr. Dehring which augurs well for a successful event in 2007."

Dehring, who has a successful background in investment banking and marketing, is looking forward to his new assignment. "It's going to be a major challenge, not just for me but for the entire Caribbean. It's our challenge to pull everything together and make it a success. My job will be to coordinate that effort but everybody in the region should understand that they have an important role to play.

"This World Cup is critical to the region and to West Indies cricket, both economically and in the context of our international profile. We must take it seriously and work systematically towards producing a logistically-sound and efficiently-run World Cup. We will also be striving for absolute transparency in the interest of our not just our global partners to whom we are answerable, but our regional partners as well."

One of his first priorities, he said, will be to consult with stakeholders in each territory and brief them on the latest developments regarding the 2007 World Cup. Dehring said the WICB had already begun the consultation process with the CARICOM Cricket Sub-Committee comprising several of the region's Prime Ministers.

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