Cricket Australia Announces Promising Kim McConnie as Head of the Big Bash League

Oct 15, 2017 at 2:06 PM

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Cricket Australia Announces Promising Kim McConnie as Head of the Big Bash League

Former Head of Sports Marketing for PepsiCo Kim McConnie, on Sunday, has succeeded Anthony Everard as the new head of the widely acclaimed Big Bash League (BBL) to take the Twenty20 professional league to a new high in the upcoming years.

McConnie further expressed delight to become the part of Cricket Australia which has played a vital role in promoting the gentleman’s game at the grassroots level while adding the women’s league has shown a lot of promise so far.

“I couldn’t be more excited to take on the role. Women’s sport is in such a great shape in Australia and the men’s league is the fifth biggest sporting league in the world,” McConnie was quoted as saying by official BBL website.

Kim McConnie, Big Bash League, Head, WBBL, BBL, Anthony Everard, James Sutherland, Digital Innovations, Sports Marketing, PepsiCo
Kim McConnie wants to make Women’s Big Bash League biggest of all in women sport. Photo Credit: AFP/Web.

(Read Also: BBL 2017/18: Sydney Thunder All Set to Play in Canberra for Expansion Plan)

Moreover, the role would be eventually same for the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) after she was working at PepsiCo’s global headquarter in New York.

Everard has been the stepping stone for the KFC Big Bash league since its inaugural edition in 2011-12 while playing a considerable role in promoting the professional league and McConnie is bound to face the stern test in the Australia set-up for gentleman’s game.

Interestingly, Everard will be the Executive General Manager for the Leagues Events of Australian board CA.

As future of both the leagues are looking bright and bigger following the appointment of experienced Kim, the league is further expected to reach a new high owing to the improvement in the domestic league.

“We have the power to do all of this in the Big Bash, and to continue to innovate sport entertainment in Australia and be a market leader,” McConnie maintained.

Kim McConnie, Big Bash League, Head, WBBL, BBL, Anthony Everard, James Sutherland, Digital Innovations, Sports Marketing, PepsiCo
The curtain raiser of the BBL will be played between hosts Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers at Spotless Stadium. Photo Credit: BBL.

(Read here: Test Championship Will Not Denigrate or Undermine The Ashes, Says James Sutherland)

Earlier, with the time passed McConnie was assigned a responsibility of a show ‘Super Bowl Halftime’ which has eventually become an instant hit in the United States of America (USA).

The 2017 show at NRG Stadium in Houston is said to have crossed over the viewership 150 million worldwide.

The show witnessed American singing sensation Lady Gaga headlining the halftime show of ‘Super Bowl’ as Pepsi sponsored the show.

So much so, the management of the different leagues across the globe has set their primary goal to engage cricket fans while availing the staggering numbers owing to the viewership.

“The BBL and WBBL are in an exciting growth period. I believe we have a huge opportunity to continue to attract new fans and participants to both leagues,” McConnie added.

Kim McConnie, Big Bash League, Head, WBBL, BBL, Anthony Everard, James Sutherland, Digital Innovations, Sports Marketing, PepsiCo
The view of coveted trophy of BBL, as the upcoming edition will witness extra eight matches. Photo Credit: BBL.

(Read Further: BBL 2017/18: Impactful Brad Hogg Fetches Fresh One-year contract with Melbourne Renegades)

It has been said to be a perfect role for McConnie, in a bid to make most out of both the leagues formulated for men and women – to engage more audience through the digital mediums.

Moreover, the Cricket Australia has set a prime focus on the process of smooth conduction of the T20 league, as McConnie is capable of managing the work pressure.

“Growing the Big Bash, and making cricket the best sport for fans, is one of the game’s strategic priorities in addition to making cricket the leading sport for women and girls,” McConnie concluded.

Kim McConnie, Big Bash League, Head, WBBL, BBL, Anthony Everard, James Sutherland, Digital Innovations, Sports Marketing, PepsiCo
Super Bowl Halftime Show attracted the staggering numbers earlier this year. Photo Web/Google.

(Read on: Australia to Play Fewer Tests, More Limited Overs Cricket After ICC Overhaul)

The Chief Executive for CA James Sutherland has expressed satisfaction to have a quality leader on board in the form of McConnie, who further knows the market well regarding sport and entertainment.

Pertinently, the eight-team tournament following the expansion plan would witness 43 games in total and Australia capital Canberra will host games apart from the six traditional venues for the league.

The opener of the seventh edition of BBL will kick start on December 19.

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