Hampshire Cricket chairman Rod Bransgrove steps down

Rod Bransgrove announced his departure as group chairman of Hampshire Sport & Leisure Holdings Limited, concluding a tenure that saw him guide the club from the brink of ruin to sustained success and stability.

The announcement comes as GMR Global Pte Ltd (GGPL) has completed its full acquisition of Hampshire Sport & Leisure Holdings Limited, which owns the Utilita Bowl site and Hampshire Cricket.

Rod Bransgrove has stepped down as chairman of Hampshire Cricket. (Image: Hampshire Cricket)

Mr Bransgrove played a key role in bringing GMR to Hampshire, describing the group as the right long-term partner to carry forward what has been built.

Mr Bransgrove said: "This moment brings to a close a chapter that has meant more to me than words can express.

"What we have built at Hampshire has been a collective effort, driven by incredible people, loyal supporters and partners who believed in a shared vision.

"I am overwhelmingly grateful to all those people who have shared this ground-breaking experience with me.

"I have immense pride in what we have achieved here and unequivocal confidence that, under GMR’s full ownership, the club and venue are in the safest of hands.

"The future is incredibly exciting, and I will be watching closely."

He masterminded the transformation of Hampshire Cricket both on and off the field and was the driving force behind the development of the Utilita Bowl, now recognised as one of the premier cricket and leisure destinations in the UK.

Under his leadership, Hampshire became pioneers in venue development, commercial innovation and women’s cricket, while remaining deeply rooted in the local community.

Kiran Kumar Grandhi, chairman of GMR Sports, has taken over as chairman of the Hampshire Sport & Leisure Group.

Mr Grandhi said: "I would like to pay tribute to Rod for the extraordinary leadership and vision he has shown over the past quarter of a century.

"His stewardship has not only transformed Hampshire Cricket and Utilita Bowl into a world-class sporting and leisure destination, but has also fostered a culture built on passion, resilience and community that is truly special."

Mr Bransgrove will remain on the board as a director and adviser for the next three years and has been named honorary life president.

GMR Global Pte Ltd’s (GGPL) full acquisition marks the start of a new era for the club, with investment and redevelopment plans already underway.

Mr Grandhi said GMR is committed to honouring the culture and legacy built under Mr Bransgrove’s leadership while aligning it with GMR’s global vision for growth and innovation.