Martin Gray is to become the new Non-Executive Chairman of the Marketing Advisory Committee of the England and Wales Cricket Board with an automatic seat on the ECB Management Board with effect from 1 January 2000.

Gray has had a distinguished career in the world of banking and is shortly to retire from NatWest where he is an Executive Director responsible for the bank's Retail and Commercial businesses.

Born in Yorkshire, Gray has had a life-long love of cricket and has been directly involved in the game through NatWest's sponsorship of the NatWest Trophy and other projects.

The ECB Marketing Committee is charged with driving up revenues for the game and increasing cricket's appeal to the public.

Commenting on his election, ECB Chairman Lord MacLaurin said: "I am delighted that the game has chosen a man of such high calibre to help drive cricket forward.

"Martin has a lot to contribute to The Management Board as well as the Marketing Committee."

Martin Gray said: "I am very excited by the opportunity to help English cricket to achieve its vision of becoming the most successful and respected cricket nation in the world. I have no doubt, building on what has already been put in place, that can be achieved and I look forward very much to the challenge."

For more details contact ECB Corporate Affairs on 0171 432 1200.