Ms Keane has been appointed as chief executive officer designate and will take on the role from March 2026, becoming the first woman to serve as CEO of a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

A qualified solicitor who began her career at Matheson, Ms Keane is now one of the longest-serving and most successful CEOs in Irish sport, having led Swim Ireland since 2004.

She served as president of the Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) from 2017 and led it to Ireland’s best Olympic Summer Games in 2024.

Beyond her sporting achievements, Ms Keane serves as a non-executive director of the Central Bank of Ireland, having recently been re-appointed for a second five-year term.

She is herself an accomplished athlete herself, being a former national level swimmer and international water polo player.

Commenting on her appointment, Ms Keane said: “I am incredibly excited and deeply honoured to become the new CEO of Cricket Ireland and the first female CEO of an ICC full member nation.

“Cricket is a truly global sport, and Ireland now stands on the threshold of tremendous opportunity — from the Olympic opportunity with the inclusion of cricket in the 2028 Olympics, the accelerated development of the women’s game, and the potential of bringing different communities together, to Ireland hosting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2030.

“I’m particularly keen to explore further avenues for commercial growth to ensure sustainable investment, and I look forward to supporting the ambitious plans for the development of the National Cricket Centre on the National Sports Campus and the upgrades to vital cricket infrastructure at Malahide, Stormont and others.

“I am committed to working collaboratively and tirelessly with the Board, staff, players, and the entire cricketing community to deliver on those opportunities for Irish Cricket and all involved.”

Brian MacNeice, chair of Cricket Ireland, said: “I am thrilled that Sarah is coming on board as our new CEO. Sarah brings a wealth of experience and is one of the most respected leaders in sport nationally and internationally. Her track record speaks for itself.

“Cricket Ireland is getting a world-class sports administrator and more importantly an individual of the upmost integrity, character and high-performance mindset.

“Throughout her career she has been an inspirational trailblazer and I am very proud that she will become the first female CEO of a full member nation.

“This is an exciting time for Irish cricket and Sarah’s appointment will help galvanise and reinvigorate cricket in Ireland.

“I have been hugely impressed with her grasp of the cricketing landscape at home and on the international stage as well as her vision and passion for what lies ahead.

“I am confident we have a leader that will maximise our potential as a cricketing nation as we move into the next phase of our journey.

“I look forward to working with Sarah to ensure we do just that.”