Former West Indies captain Jimmy Adams has taken over as the director of cricket at the West Indies Cricket Board. Adams, who turned 49 on Monday, replaces Richard Pybus, who opted to not renew his contract having served in the role for three years.

Last week, ESPNcricinfo reported Adams had accepted the job but was negotiating the terms. On Tuesday, the WICB announced Adams' appointment stating his contract was for three years.

Adams had stepped down last October as the head coach at Kent, a role he had served in since 2012. The timing of his departure from Kent was not lost on many as it had come less than a month after the WICB had sacked Phil Simmons as the West Indies coach.

Adams did apply for the vacant head coach position of the West Indies, but was persuaded to take up the role of the director of cricket instead. Incidentally, Pybus was part of the selection panel that picked Adams.

"Jimmy thinks the timing is right for his new role with the WICB," the WICB media release said. Adams said he was looking forward to contributing to the growth of West Indies cricket. "I am very excited to be directly involved in Caribbean cricket once again, and I look forward to working with all those committed to moving the game forward in the West Indies."

His predecessor, Pybus, acknowledged the scope of the challenge Adams faced, but felt the Jamaican was well suited to take over the role.

"I look forward to Jimmy bringing the breadth of his international experience and knowledge of cricket in the Caribbean to continue the work of rebuilding West Indies Cricket," Pybus said in the release. "It is an exciting time for cricket in the region, with the momentum of the [T20] World Cup's success and the professional cricket structures beginning to produce players capable of competing and excelling at international level."

Prior to returning to the West Indies to take on the director of cricket role, Adams served West Indies cricket in a variety of positions including West Indies U-19 manager. As a player, he made his Test debut in April 1992 and played 54 Tests, with a highest score of 208 not out against New Zealand, and also played 127 ODIs.