Walsh, 54, was the successful candidate following a vote of BE’s full members. He succeeds Russell Levenston, whose term of service has finished.
Walsh is steeped in basketball. A former player with Bolton and an active and experienced member of Basketball England’s North West Region, where he is acting chair, he is also coach and club administrator of the small but growing Chorley Mammoths community club in Lancashire.
Professionally, Walsh is formally trained Quantity Surveyor with an extensive background in commercial construction, business management, forensic analysis and the corporate sector of the industry. He runs a company which 'helps firms to implement change and develop’.
He said: “I am not a basketball ‘name’ as it were, but it has been my life for 40 years. I played at the highest level. I’m a junior coach and club administrator of a small but growing community club. My kids have the bug too.
"I get what it is like to be on the ground [in basketball]. I know the highs and lows of running a club. The lows saw me stepping up to put my money where my mouth is, and taking on the role of acting chair of the North West Region.”
Walsh has been integral to BE’s Regional Pilot in the North West, which has set a blueprint for developing leagues, coaches and officials locally - as well as appointing officials - and is set to be implemented in other regions following its success there.
Acting BE Chair Russell Bell said: “I’m delighted to welcome Chris to the BE Board. He has a range of skills and a fantastic background in creating change and growth within the game through his tireless, dedicated and imaginative hard work in the regions.
“I fully expect him to continue to make a significant contribution to our sport as an independent board member.”
Bell also paid tribute to Russell Levenston on his departure from the Board, saying: “I’d like to put on record my own and Basketball England’s thanks to Russell for his term of service.
“He has brought ideas, experience, energy and passion to our meetings and decision-making and leaves with our gratitude for the work he has done.”
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