Paul Skinner says he is honoured and proud to serve Barbados cricket following his appointment as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA), effective July 15.
A seasoned sports administrator and proud Barbadian, Skinner takes the reins from Dr Roland Toppin, who retired after serving just over six years at the helm. With over 20 years of regional and international experience, Skinner brings a wealth of knowledge from previous roles at Cricket West Indies (CWI), the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), and most recently as General Manager of the Trinidad Knight Riders franchise.
"I am honoured to be here at the BCA, and I am extremely proud to be of service to Barbados and Barbados cricket. The BCA has had a long and illustrious history in cricket and cricket administration, and I look forward to complementing that history and continuing to enhance the strong foundation that has been set," Skinner told Barbados Today.
His tenure begins at a pivotal time for the organisation, as the BCA prepares for leadership change at the presidential level. Incumbent Conde Riley, who has served four terms over eight years, is stepping down. Calvin Hope, Jeff Broomes, Philo Wallace, and Henderson Wallace are expected to contest the presidency on August 12, after the association’s annual general meeting on July 29.
Looking ahead, Skinner outlined a vision centered on strengthening the island’s cricket development system, with a particular focus on youth advancement and elite performance.
"As a local Board, we have our part to play in being a feeder system for West Indies cricket. We have to be in a constant state of evolution and improvement to be competitive on the global stage. The BCA must ensure that we produce quality professionals, male and female, who are consistently competitive in all formats of the game," Skinner noted.
He also stressed the importance of building strong relationships with clubs, members, and corporate Barbados to foster long-term sustainability and growth.
"We have a large number of clubs and a large membership with a wide range of expertise that I would like to tap into. We also have a duty to be of more service to them. Corporate Barbados and the private sector are a large and important segment in this plan, and their support will be critical to ensuring the viability and sustainability of our plans for the sport," Skinner stated.