Rahul Johri is CEO of BCCI

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday announced Rahul Johri as its first-ever chief executive officer. Mr. Johri, after spending two decades in the media industry, will join the board on June 1.

“We are pleased to have Rahul with us and are sure his vast experience and knowledge will benefit the board. His vision, guidance and support will contribute towards the successful working of the BCCI,” BCCI president Shashank Manohar said in a media release.

Mr. Johri quit Discovery Networks after spending 15 years with the broadcasting major. He was Discovery Networks Asia Pacific’s executive vice-president and general manager for south Asia.

Mr. Johri will report to the BCCI secretary. It remains to be seen if he will be given freedom to work independently in a set-up that’s traditionally controlled by honorary office-bearers.

A CEO appointment was among the key recommendations by the three-member Justice RM Lodha Committee, appointed by the Supreme Court to suggest administrative reforms in Indian cricket. While the Lodha panel recommendations are still being debated in the apex court, the BCCI has appointed Mr. Johri after rigorously scanning candidates through a professional head-hunting agency.

In 2005, soon after taking over as BCCI chief for the first time, Sharad Pawar had recommended appointment of a chief executive officer. However, since the BCCI rulebook handed all the powers of a chief executive to the secretary, the proposal wasn’t approved and Prof Ratnakar Shetty was thus appointed as the chief administrative officer.