Kent have announced Carl Openshaw will be their president for 2009.

The 70-year-old retired company director joined the Kent committee in 1994 and was club chairman from 1999 until March this year.

He was prominently involved in club cricket in Kent for many years and was chairman of the Kent Cricket League from 1986 to 1992. As a player, he captained Tunbridge Wells when they reached the national club knock-out final at Lord’s in 1974.

He also captained the Kent side which won the national over-50s county championship in 1989 and 1991.

Kent’s president for 2008 Peter Morgan said: “Carl has given magnificent service to the club, including nine years as chairman, when he steered us through changing times with great skill and charm.

"He is well known and respected not only in Kent but at a national level where he has championed the cause of Kent and all the other counties which do not have the benefit of hosting Test matches.

"I know that, home and away, he will be an excellent ambassador for our club.

"I am delighted that he has agreed to become Kent’s president for 2009 and look forward to introducing him as my successor at the club’s annual general meeting in March."