The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the appointment of Rahul Johri as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), a development that culminated a two-month process which started with the hiring of Mumbai-based head-hunting firm Korn Ferry. Johri, a former head honcho of Discover Network in its South Asia and Asia Pacific regions, will be the first-ever CEO of the BCCI. He will take charge, on June 1, interestingly at a time when Indian cricket is in a state of turmoil with the Supreme Court verdict on Lodha Committee recommendation expected any time. But the 49-year-old Johri, who had previously worked with global sports management firm International Management Group (IMG), said he looked at his new job as an opportunity rather than a challenge. "There is no job in the world that is without challenges. But it is also an opportunity and I am looking forward to it," the Delhi-based Johri told Mirror.

Johri seemed to have a fair idea about the enormity of the task at hand and his role in the world's richest cricket board but he said he wished to approach his new job with a sense of pride. "I am proud of being chosen to serve Indian cricket and millions of fans. It is a great honour and privilege and I hope I can deliver," Johri, son of a former a UP cadre bureaucrat, said.

Asked to comment further on his job and Indian cricket he said, "I'm proud of Indian cricket, actually every bit of it." Has he set any goal for himself? "It is too premature for me to talk about goals. I will be joining on June 1 and maybe I can comment on these things after that. The announcement has just been made, I am proud about it and I am looking forward to the opportunity."

During the process of selection, Johri is believed to have been interviewed by BCCI president Shashank Manohar and secretary Anurag Thakur recently in Mumbai. But the new CEO refused to divulge details of his selection. "I have been interviewed several times in my career," he said.

Finally, does he know any Indian cricketer personally? "I'll speak to you once I take charge," he signed off. Meanwhile, there's unease and confusion within the BCCI following Johri's appointment. It has been said that the new CEO will report directly to the secretary Anurag Thakur who, constitutionally, is the CEO of the board. Some claim there could be demarcation of responsibilities.