Blake steps down & Percival steps up as BBL chair

After almost a decade in the position of chairman of the British Basketball League, Paul Blake has called time on the role, and a swift replacement has been installed.

In a statement issued today by the BBL, Ed Percival will take up the role of non-executive chair, whose recent experience includes work as a senior member of Shirlaws – a global business coaching organisation and who specialise in building assets in client companies – and also actively involved as a BBL Foundation Board Member.

Percival will be hoping to progress even further the work of the BBL, and spoke of his excitement at the role: “This chairman position is a huge honour for me.

“The BBL clubs provide exciting sporting entertainment and the professional game is progressing year on year.

“The basketball community is also growing rapidly and the BBL events team, led by (Chief Operating Officer) Andy Webb, always puts on compelling Finals.

“I am thrilled to be engaged.”

Percival’s appointment is seen to be the first stage of a gradual transition to an Executive Committee managing the BBL, made up of non-affiliated Non-Executives, along with the Chief Operating Officer (Webb) and Commercial Director (David Leyden-Dunbar).

Welcomed alongside Percival on the new Executive Committee, as a new board member, is Simon Vumbaca of ASV LAW.

Vumbaca is a top international sport lawyer bringing vast experience of boardroom negotiations and all legal aspects in sport and media rights. Vumbaca has acted all around the globe for Federations, Olympic Committees elite athletes, regulatory bodies and sponsors, in all high performance sports ranging from motorsport to football, rugby, sailing & athletics.

Vumbaca said: “I am delighted to have been asked to continue assisting the BBL in its continued development and it is with great pleasure that I accepted the position.”