Mark Pettini will guide a new generation of Essex players

Stand-in Essex captain Mark Pettini, 23, will replace the retired Ronnie Irani in a permanent capacity for the rest of 2007 and the whole of 2008.

The announcement means Pettini is the youngest captain on the county circuit.

Meanwhile, Paul Grayson steps up from his second XI duties to be the new first team coach, a position previously shared by Irani and Graham Gooch.

John Childs retains his role as Academy Director, but takes on an additional job as the second team coach.

Former England wicket-keeper James Foster will be the new vice-captain.

Pettini, born in Brighton, made his Championship debut in the final match of the 2001 season against Yorkshire.

There are certainly some great names that I'll be following Mark Pettini

A regular in the one-day squad by 2005, he played his part in the Totesport League success that year.

His breakthrough year was 2006, when he scored 1,000 Championship runs in a season for the first time and produced some explosive innings as an opener in one-day cricket.

Essex chief executive David East said: "We strongly believe Mark Pettini has demonstrated the ability and the drive to take the side forward."

Pettini told BBC Essex: "It's been a couple of months where I've been able to get a feel for the job. It's nice to now have that feeling that the job is mine.