North East Business Executive of the Year
Sponsored by Dickinson Dees
David Harker – chief executive of Durham County Cricket Club
THERE'S no shortage of silverware in the trophy cabinet at the Riverside these days.
But the latest addition to a collection which, of course, includes the prestigious County Championship trophy, is not typical of those associated with even the most successful sports clubs.
Durham County Cricket Club chief executive David Harker picked up the North East Business Executive of the Year trophy as recognition of his leadership skills which have transformed the club over the nine years he has been in the role.
The former accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers joined Durham CCC in 1991, the year it gained its first-class status and was appointed chief executive in 2000. Since then it has been one of the great North East sporting success stories – culminating in two successive County Championship titles.
Harker, who lives in Prudhoe, Northumberland, admits he was “thrilled but a little surprised” when his name was read out as the overall winner of the prestigious award last week.
He is quick, however, to stress that it was an honour for all of the team at the cricket club.
“That point about the club is a key one,” he said. “I was representing all the backroom staff. And while we would never claim credit for the success on the field, we have nevertheless made a contribution to what has been achieved.”
The club’s Riverside home has undergone a radical transformation over the years into the impressive stadium it is today – and there are ambitious £45m plans to take it on to the next level by 2011. From 2013, the Riverside will also be an Ashes venue – a true feather in the cap for the region.
Harker’s ambition and vision have been fundamental in helping this transformation take place, earning Durham a reputation as the most progressive county in English cricket. And, while he recognises that a cricket club may not be regarded by some as a business in the traditional sense, he has had to display all the hallmarks of a great chief executive to enable this to happen.
“We are a business without a doubt – in the business of sport, but still a business,” he said.
Like every other business, 2009 has proved a challenging time, but the club has managed to identify new sources of funding. Amongst a host of impressive new sponsors, the global airline Emirates is now a major partner of the club.
“It has been a challenging year and we are not out of it yet, but we are very clear about what we stand for and we will achieve that through focus and determination,” says Harker, who joked in his acceptance speech that the club had some likenesses to a “not for profit” company.
But the accounts only tell half of the story, and Harker’s award was recognition of his contribution as a business executive in the broadest sense.
In particular, the club has won plaudits for establishing its own community foundation and prolific academy system.
“It is great to be able to have that power to get out into the community and try to make a difference and we are pleased to be doing that,” he said.
“There was a concern that young people from the region either had to move away or give up their intention of cricket as a career, so to be able provide an opportunity for young people is a great incentive.
“In a part of the world where we struggle sometimes with the aspirations of young people, we can clearly identify those coming through our ranks who were not so long ago sitting in school assemblies wondering what they were going to do.
“They’ve found a path through sport that has provided them with incredible opportunities – to travel, to earn and to be successful.”
It is a powerful legacy to leave, not that Harker’s work is done yet. With the stadium redevelopment in the pipeline, there is plenty of hard work ahead.
“What it takes to be successful in sport applies to all walks of life – ambition, dedication and determination,” he said. “It’s hard work, but I feel immensely privileged to have had the opportunity to deal with those challenges.”
:: Click here to see an image gallery from the North East Business Executive of the Year awards
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