Derek Brewer was born in 1958 and went to Leighton Park School, in Reading. He then went on to Aston University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. While at university he played for both Moseley Cricket Club and Warwickshire 2nd XI as a bowler.
He forged a career in banking and finance, spending 24 years with NatWest and RBS before serving as Chief Executive of Nottinghamshire C.C.C. from 2005 to 2012, where he oversaw the redevelopment of Trent Bridge. That process must have helped to earn him his post at Lord’s as M.C.C. Secretary and Chief Executive, which he has held since May 2012.
Derek’s business background is likely to be crucial – M.C.C. is a business which turns over between £40M and £50M and employs about 180 staff, with all the catering being done in-house. On a major match day there are around 1,500 staff serving the crowd of 28,000. He spearheaded a ground working party and undertook a top to bottom review of the club’s business. He has put in place a 10-year strategic plan which aims to ensure that Lord’s maintains its position as the world’s pre-eminent cricket ground and as the Home of Cricket.
His first task at Lord’s was to oversee London 2012’s hosting of the Olympic archery competitions. Within two weeks the venue had to be ready for the Test match between England and South Africa.
He took over at Lord’s from the Australian, Keith Bradshaw, whom we welcomed to our society in 2009 (remember the strange shaped cricket bats and pink cricket balls that he brought with him?!). Vision for Lord’s (a £400M redevelopment of the ground) was first floated in 2008, before the global economic meltdown, but has since caused controversy and internal disputes. This can be illustrated by the resignation of Sir John Major from the main committee.
Under Derek’s stewardship there is now a scaled down £180-£200M Lord’s Masterplan which has been approved. The redevelopment is due to start in Autumn 2014 (the Warner Stand) and to finish in 2027 (the Compton and Edrich Stands). The capacity of the ground is only due to increase by 2,700 to 32,000 but there are scheduled to be several improvements to the ground for the benefit of spectators, players and staff. He said that “We need to make sure the customer experience is really special so people will come to watch cricket here rather than on television. To do that it is important to make sure facilities are of the highest order”.
Derek is also responsible at MCC for monitoring the “Spirit of Cricket” and the guardianship of the Laws of cricket. He has said that “Our spirit of cricket brand is terrific” and that “The influence of our world cricket committee under Mike Brearley is not to be underestimated”. His love for cricket can be seen in the fact that he has been collecting Wisden cricket almanacks dating from the 1960s and he has a cigarette-card collection of cricketers all of which are displayed in his living room in his home at Lord’s.
We will all look forward to hearing from a current, key player in English cricket.