The Argentine Cricket Association today confirmed the appointment of Grant Dugmore as CEO, effective from 1 June 2009. With the experience of the past six years as ICC Americas Regional Development Officer under his belt, the appointment of Dugmore is a major coup for Cricket Argentina, and Association President, Ricardo Lord, is understandably delighted.

“As soon as we learnt of Grant’s possible availability earlier in the year, we actually approached him to take up a senior management position within the Association as we needed to improve our operational ability across the board, in all three departments, administration, development and high performance.

We have now simply restructured our staff and operational structure, with Grant slotting in to the CEO role instead of into a brand new position we were going to create. With his knowledge, experience and vision, he is exactly the man we want to lead all aspects of cricket in Argentina.

He also fits the bill perfectly as we wanted someone settled and resident in Argentina, and his background as previous national coach and administrator with Argentina, along with his intimate working knowledge of regional and international cricket all adds up.”

Dugmore will now head an organization that is small in comparison to many other Associate countries, but is big in potential, and which has earned a solid reputation over the last decade. The new CEO is well aware of the challenges awaiting him.

“I am very excited about the challenges ahead, and I am aware they will be challenges, there are no simple solutions in a country where the image of cricket amongst the general population is basically negative, and without real visual ways of proving doubters otherwise. I believe the only way to look to grow is sure steady progress, to look for sustainable long term solutions rather than spectacular but temporary short term ones.

With increased country funding, these are exciting times for member countries in terms of opportunities for development, as well as increased international competition, so it’s a great moment to be able to manage a progressive country like Argentina. I am also excited about working with nearby countries such as Chile, Brazil, Peru and others as I am a firm believer in the potential for the game in South America. I am really looking forward to dedicating myself to the future of cricket in Argentina.”

Dugmore has many years of experience with Argentina cricket, having first arrived in the country as a cricket coach back in 1997. Apart from then taking up a role responsible for national cricket development, he also filled the role as national coach, most notably at the 2001 ICC Trophy in Canada, where Argentina won four games out of five and served notice of their potential as a cricket nation.

This success was followed by two years as head of the Argentine Cricket Association’s administration, as the first CEO in the organization’s history. In 2003 Dugmore was appointed as Regional Development Officer for ICC Americas, based out of Buenos Aires, until his resignation earlier this year. His present appointment means he has come full circle.

“I think my regional development experience will be very beneficial to my objectives for Argentine cricket, one of which is to improve the quality of domestic cricket, for men, women and juniors. Most if not all development challenges in Latin Americas are similar if not the same – language, football, lack of media, amongst others – so searching for solutions in Argentina will mirror all Latin countries.

The timing for me is perfect, as I felt I had given virtually everything I could to the region, and although the years with ICC Americas were amazing, I felt the time was right to move on, and it is a wonderful opportunity for me to be able to stay in cricket. I am grateful to the Argentine Cricket Association for putting faith in me to take Argentine cricket forward in the years ahead.”

Dugmore’s experience is not only confined to Argentina and the Americas region. He is very much linked with Scottish cricket, having spent a number of seasons playing and coaching at Stoneywood-Dyce Cricket Club in Aberdeen. His playing pedigree stretches back to the early nineties, having represented South African Country Districts.

More recently, Dugmore made his international debut for Argentina in 2007, participating in the World Cricket League Division 3 tournament in Darwin, Australia, an event which saw Argentina go on an amazing run to the final and gain promotion to Division 2.

Grant Dugmore officially takes over as Argentine Cricket Association CEO on Monday, 1 June, 2009.