Richard Thompson is Chair of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), a position he has held since 2022. His ambition is for cricket to become the country’s most inclusive sport. During his tenure, he has overseen the successful sale of ownership stakes in the Hundred teams, generating £1.1 billion in enterprise value.
Richard has extensive experience across sport, media, marketing and entertainment. He is Global Chair of M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment and I Talk PR, as well as Global Head of Corporate Development for M&C Saatchi Group. He founded the M&C Saatchi Talent Group, representing leading names across sport, media, fashion and entertainment, and previously founded marketing agency EMS, which he sold to Mosaic Group plc for £25 million. He has held a number of senior roles in sport and entertainment, including Chair of television production company South Shore and Chair of Surrey County Cricket Club from 2010 to 2022, becoming the youngest Chair in the club’s history.
Richard also founded Sport United Against Dementia, which has raised more than £5 million to support people affected by dementia. In recognition of his contributions, Richard was awarded the Freedom of the City of London in 2023.