HUMBY TO CHAIR BBF

English FA chief operating officer Nick Humby has been named as chair-in-waiting of the British Basketball Federation.

His appointment comes after a protracted recruitment process in which the original appointee, as-yet-unnamed, withdrew after accepting, forcing a second round of interviews.

Humby, who will officially take up the role on 1 January 2016, has previously been an executive at the Lawn Tennis Association and Manchester United.

He will initially be tasked with moulding the governing body through its transition to inheriting a single FIBA membership from the three home nations next October. However, the slump in the performance of Great Britain’s national teams – and their lack of commercial visibility – is likely to immediately top the to-do list of the incoming board which will have delicately negotiate the politics of carving a division of responsibilities between the BBF and Basketball England, Scotland and Wales, as well as the British Basketball League.

“I am honoured and delighted to be offered the independent Chairmanship of the new British Basketball Federation Board as it prepares to take on the responsibility for FIBA membership next year,” said Humby.

“We have an exciting opportunity to grow the sport though the collaboration of the new organisation with the three Home Nations, who were bold and visionary in signing up for the change. There is a great deal to do to ensure that the BBF, together with the Home Nations, are set up to deliver on this opportunity.

“I very much look forward to meeting everyone involved in the sport and working with the new Board to develop the plans and build the relationships required to deliver the success we all aspire to.”

Ahead of Humby’s arrival, Bill McInnes will continue to act as the Interim Chair in his capacity as a Transitional Director from British Performance Basketball.

“In Nick, I think the sport has attracted someone with a range of skills and experience which is a perfect match to deal both with ambitious plans for the future and the challenges on the journey,” he said.

“Add to that the calibre of the other board members and you have a group that any sport would be delighted to have. I am sure it will take basketball in Britain to the next level.”