David Harker – CEO, Durham County Cricket Club: Featured Profile with iSC

David Harker, CEO of Durham County Cricket Cub, has taken part in an exclusive Featured Profile interview with iSportconnect Features Writer Mary Meyer.

Harker spoke about the business model of the club and its future as well as discussing wider issues in cricket.

He talked at length about Durham’s current plans in the build-up to the county’s first Ashes test in 2013 and beyond, and the importance of non-cricket revenue alongside sport-driven funds.

Harker spoke in particular detail about the way in which Durham handled the renaming of their home ground in conjunction with Emirates and the issues surrounding naming rights.

He explained, “I think you can’t blame clubs for wishing to leverage all of their assets and to try and drive their commercial values. I think if it is done sensitively and you take the supporters with you, then it makes sense”.

Harker also gave his take on foreign ownership, the restructuring of county cricket and match-fixing.

Harker revealed “I’m not unduly concerned that domestic cricket will suffer in terms of people not believing that the game is true and fair. But clearly you can only take so many of these knocks before people do begin to question”.

The Durham man concluded with an endorsement of iSportConnect, and a glimpse into the club’s future. “As we look into other projects and expansion overseas then I can see how having this kind of network would be a useful resource to tap into”.

To read the full interview click here – http://tinyurl.com/7l4ofsh

NOTE FOR EDITORS:

David Harker has been the CEO of Durham County Cricket Club since 2000. He joined the Chester-le-Street club in 1991 when Durham became the first county to turn professional in seventy years having worked at PwC (then PriceWaterHouse). Harker has overseen great success both on and off the field at the 1892 born club, including the side’s back-to-back County Championships of 2008 and 2009, and the ground’s elevation to international status, and, from 2013, Ashes host.