During his tenure with CWI, Grave oversaw three World Cups hosted in the West Indies. (Credit: MLC)

The Major League Cricket (MLC) franchise men's Twenty20 competition in the US has appointed Johnny Grave as its new chief executive.

In the role, he will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of MLC's operations, including league expansion (it first launched in 2023), team development, and strategic partnerships.

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Grave served as CEO of Cricket West Indies (CWI) for seven years up until October 2024, and has nearly 25 years of leadership experience in international cricket.

During his tenure with CWI, he oversaw three World Cups hosted in the West Indies and was the CEO for the 2024 men's T20 World Cup co-hosted with the US last June.

Before joining CWI, Grave served as commercial director at the Professional Cricketers' Association in England for 10 years.

Venky Harinarayan, board of directors member of MLC, has now said: “We are confident that Johnny's leadership will be a key driver as we continue to grow Major League Cricket.

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“His extensive experience in international cricket and deep connections within the global cricketing community will be crucial as we expand the league, enhance our partnerships, and increase fan engagement in the US.”

Grave added: “I am honored to lead the league at this transformative time. Cricket is beloved globally and I am thrilled to see its fan base growing rapidly in the US. I look forward to working with the MLC team to help elevate the league, engage with fans, and build a thriving, sustainable future for cricket in America."

Grave’s appointment comes ahead of MLC’s third campaign and as the league prepares for expansion in the US market with plans to expand to more cities in the coming years.

MLC's 2025 season opens in June.