David Collier was named as the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) chief executive on Wednesday, replacing Tim Lamb.
Lamb, who had been in the job since the ECB's inception in 1997, resigned in May but stepped down last month.
Collier, who has been acting as chief executive for English county side Nottinghamshire, takes over during a difficult period for the ECB, with political strife in Zimbabawean cricket still having ramifications on the English game.
The England team, who refused to play a World Cup match in Zimambawe last year because of the players' concerns over security and alledged human rights abuses, are to tour the country next month for five one-day internationals.