A former international athlete and rugby player, Walker has a range of professional experience in the sporting arena as successful leader and motivator.
He will fill the role for up to six months as BE undertakes a full, open and transparent recruitment process to identify the right person to take on the position permanently.
“It is my great pleasure to welcome Nigel to the organisation as we look forward to a new season. It is a real coup for the organisation to have him join us on an interim basis.
“His focus will be on growing our membership base and ensuring that we service our community better as well as improving standards across the game and ensuring our sport continues as the most diverse and inclusive in the UK. He is a highly talented and respected figure in sport and I am confident he will serve the us and basketball well as we start the search for someone to take on the role for the longer term.”
“I am delighted to join Basketball England on an interim basis and to have the opportunity to work with the organisation’s excellent staff and our partners.
“Over the next six months I will focus my efforts on ensuring we deliver our strategy with a particular emphasis on growing the membership, improving the service we provide to our existing members and nurturing our most talented players.”
Walker has held roles at Welsh Rugby Union as Executive Director of Rugby, acting CEO and Performance Director, spent 11 years as National Director of the English Institute of Sport (now UK Sports Institute) and enjoyed a 10-year career at BBC Wales as Head of Sport, among other roles.
He also served on the UK Sport board for four years (2006-2010) and was a member of the Commonwealth Games England Board (2015-2022). In addition, he held independent roles with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and was on the Birmingham 2022 Operations Board.
His appointment follows the departure of Stewart Kellett from BE last week.
