Michael Barber, now Lord Barber, has stepped down from his role as Chair of Somerset County Cricket Club with immediate effect.
He took on the role in 2022, and during his tenure, the club has introduced a professional women's team and won two Vitality Blast trophies.
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Lord Barber was the founder and first head of the UK Prime Minister's Delivery Unit, and the founder and chair of Delivery Associates, which has worked with government leaders across the developing and developed world to enable them to deliver their domestic policy priorities.
He received a knighthood in 2005 and was elevated to the House of Lord’s in January this year.
Regarding his decision, Lord Barber said: “My new responsibilities in the House of Lords make it impossible for me to carry on as Chair of Somerset Cricket - I simply won’t have the time that the task demands and deserves.
“I have loved every minute of my four years as Chair. I am glad to say the board has never been stronger, and we have a good succession plan in place.
"In Jamie Cox, we have a fantastic CEO who leads a strong Executive Team.
“We have strong relationships in the region and with the ECB, and finished last year with a budget in surplus and ambitious plans for the future.
"Our digital presence leads the way in cricket, and our venue, the Cooper’s Associates County Ground, is repeatedly chosen as the venue with the best atmosphere.
“We have also seen a historic development; the establishment of a Tier One Somerset Women’s team, now with an exciting new coach, Erin Osborne.
“Meanwhile, on the field, we have seen real success over those four years, winning the Vitality Blast twice, and reaching Finals Day every year.
"We also reached the final of the One-Day Cup. Like every previous Chair, I step down without us having won the County Championship, but at least we competed strongly and had two third-place finishes.
“I’m confident the team is well prepared for the 2026 season, and we have a strong pathway for both boys and girls and continue to develop brilliant young cricketers.
“We owe our success most of all to our passionate, committed and friendly members and supporters who make Somerset a great place both to play and to watch cricket, as I hear often from other counties. I shall always take pride in having been associated with such a wonderful club.
“I look forward to staying a friend of Somerset for life and when time permits visiting the Cooper Associates County Ground to see our teams in action.”
Somerset CEO, Jamie Cox thanked Lord Barber for his passion and commitment to the club during his tenure.
He said: “We are very fortunate to have benefited from having such a credentialled leader at the helm of Somerset CCC for the past four years.
"Michael’s passion for the game, the club and the region is inspiring and will be dearly missed, but we totally understand his decision with his new commitments.
"We sincerely thank him for his leadership and guidance through a time of great change across the game and a time which has delivered success to the county, both on and off the field.
“We congratulate him on his new role and wish him every success, whilst assuring him that there will always be a seat here in the sunshine for him to watch the cricket whenever his schedule permits.”
Current Vice Chair, Richard Brice, will step up to the role of Chair whilst Somerset CCC undertakes a thorough process to recruit a replacement.
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