Lord Harry Woolf, a former Chief Justice of England and Wales, has been named chairman of the ICC's Independent Governance Review Committee that will draw up a new strategic plan for 2011-2015, which includes looking into the controversial election process of its president.
Lord Woolf of Barnes will be supported in his work by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the renowned global professional services firm, the ICC said.
Lord Woolf is one of the most respected figures in the legal world, having been the Lord Chief Justice in England and Wales until 2005. He was Master of the Rolls between 1996 and 2000, the second most senior judge in England and Wales.
He was also the first Lord Chief Justice to be President of the Courts in England and Wales. In addition to his work in the United Kingdom, he is on the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong since 2003 as well as the President of the Qatar Financial Centre Civil and Commercial Court since 2007.
The ICC had identified the need for an independent governance review as one of the key initiatives in its new strategic plan 2011-2015.
The scope of the review will include clarifying the role and structure of the ICC and its committees to ensure that strategic goals are met effectively and decision-making is made in the best interests of the game, dealing appropriately with any potential conflicts of interest.
The review will look into the ICC president's nomination and election process, membership categories and criteria for membership, effectiveness of the regulatory environment, review of the ICC Code of Ethics and the process for dealing with investigations into corruption and breaches of ethics by the ICC Ethics Officer.
The review will commence with immediate effect and Lord Woolf will be working with PwC to determine a timeframe for the delivery of his report and recommendations.
ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said, "We truly aspire to be a well managed and leading global governing body and we are privileged to have Lord Woolf leading this most important governance review.
"There can be no doubt that, in Lord Woolf, the ICC Board has appointed a personality with enormous experience and reputation and by adding in the capability of PwC, it shows how seriously we are taking this exercise."
Accepting the appointment, Lord Woolf said, "It is a privilege to be invited to undertake this important review that has implications for the whole sport of cricket. I intend to conduct the independent review in a thorough and transparent manner that will draw on experiences and good practices from within and outside cricket.
"I will seek to deliver a report across the wide brief that I have been set as soon as is practicable, noting, of course, the need for effective consultation and the consideration of various viewpoints before any recommendations can be finalised."