Lancashire Cricket appoints Justine Hewitt as Operations Director
Lancashire Cricket can confirm the appointment of Justine Hewitt as the Club’s new Operations Director at Emirates Old Trafford.
Hewitt is highly experienced in stadium safety and event management – having spent over 20 years working in the industry – and joins from Leicester City Football Club, where she has been Head of Operations at the Premier League side since April 2020.
Prior to joining Leicester City, Hewitt spent a decade at the Ricoh Arena (now Coventry Building Society Arena) – the home of Wasps Rugby – where her roles included Major Events & Project Manager and Head of Operations, before becoming Operations Director in 2019.
Hewitt delivered a range of events at the venue, such as 2012 Olympic football matches and major indoor and outdoor concerts such as Take That, Oasis, Coldplay, Bruce Springsteen and Rihanna.
She is also in the process of achieving her Level 5 Crowd Safety Management qualification and Hewitt also holds the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) General Certificate
Hewitt also has previous experience of working at Emirates Old Trafford, after joining the Club as a Freelance Project Manager for the 2013 Ashes Test held at the venue, focusing on customer experience and safety operations.
In addition to the appointment of the Club’s new Operations Director, Lancashire Cricket has also appointed Scott Tyldesley as Head of Safety and Resilience. Tyldesley joins the Club from Wigan Athletic Football Club, where he has worked since April 2022 as Health and Safety Manager and most recently as Head of Facilities at the Club’s stadium and training ground.
Tyldesley brings vast experience and knowledge of health and safety practices and regulations to Emirates Old Trafford. He will assume overall responsibility for the facilities and safety within the venue and will working closely alongside Justine Hewitt.
Lancashire Cricket’s Chief Executive, Daniel Gidney said: “I am delighted to confirm the appointment of Justine as our new Operations Director and welcome her to the Executive Team.
“Justine brings a wealth of relevant stadium and event management experience to Lancashire Cricket, and she will add further focus to continuing to enhance the all-round guest experience for Members, supporters and event goers who attend Emirates Old Trafford throughout the year.
“I am also really pleased to welcome Scott to the Club as Head of Safety and Resilience. Together Scott and Justine will use their high levels of experience to ensure that Emirates Old Trafford is operating at the highest standard as a venue during all of our cricket, concerts and events.”
Justine Hewitt also commented: “I am hugely excited to join the Red Rose family and to start work at one of world cricket’s most historic venues, Emirates Old Trafford.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time working at Emirates Old Trafford during the 2013 Ashes and the venue has since been through an incredible transformation during the last decade. It is now hosting more domestic and international cricket than ever before alongside concerts and a year-round conference, events and on-site hotel business.
“I am looking forward to working with the rest of the Executive Team, using my experience to help the Club build on the progress it has already made and to ensure that all guests visiting Emirates Old Trafford – whatever the reason – have a safe and unforgettable experience at our venue.”
Scott Tyldesley added: “I am really looking forward to playing an important role in helping a world-class venue such as Emirates Old Trafford to safely deliver huge events year-round.
“Throughout my time at Wigan Athletic I have picked up invaluable skills and knowledge in the health and safety field and I will assist Justine and the team in delivering successful events at the home of Lancashire Cricket.”