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Yorkshire appoints ex-Wesps CEO Stephen Vaughan as their new chief executive alongside general manager Darren Gough – as county finally replace Mark Arthur who retired in the wake of Azeem Rafiq racism scandal
- Ex-CEO Stephen Vaughan of Wespen has been appointed as the new CEO of Yorkshire
- Lord Patel praised his ‘openness in dealing with challenging conditions at Wasps’
- The cricket club has been without one since Mark Arthur stepped down in 2021
- Arthur resigned in the wake of Azeem Rafiq’s racism scandal last year
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Yorkshire has turned to a man who knows a lot about running a crisis club, appointing Stephen Vaughan as their new chief executive.
Vaughan, who will start working at Headingley next Monday, will come over from the beleaguered Wasps, who is currently on the board and whose uncertain future will include relegation from the Rugby Union Premiership at the end of the current season.
A former professional footballer at Walsall, who became CEO of the Wasps Group in 2020 when Stuart Cain left for Warwickshire, he will form a new management team with ex-England fast bowler Darren Gough.
Ex-Wasps CEO Stephen Vaughan (right) has been named new Yorkshire CEO
Gough has converted the interim director of the cricket title, which he held during the County Championship’s relegation campaign in 2022, to a permanent position.
Yorkshire has not had a CEO since Mark Arthur stepped down 12 months ago in the wake of Azeem Rafiq’s racism scandal.
Paul Hudson was acting CEO for most of that period.
“We are delighted to welcome Stephen to the club as the outstanding candidate in a very talented field,” said Yorkshire chairman Lord Kamlesh Patel.
The ex-boss of Wasps will lead the cricket club together with director Darren Gough
Vaughan succeeds Mark Arthur who retired in 2021 amid Azeem Rafiq’s racism scandal
‘With years of knowledge and experience in various disciplines within the sport, he will bring a lot of expertise.
“His proven track record and business acumen will be essential to our future success.
Stephen’s openness in dealing with challenging conditions at Wasps in the wake of Covid demonstrates the strength of character that will be vital to the club’s ongoing transformation.
“I look forward to working with him as we continue our rebuilding journey.”
Vaughan said Yorkshire was one of many possible destinations available to him and he thinks he can help bring better days as it comes from a dark chapter in history.
Lord Kamlesh Patel praised Vaughan’s ‘openness’ in dealing with financial crisis at Wasps
“Yorkshire County Cricket Club is one of the most iconic sporting institutions in the world and it is a real honor to take on this role,” he said.
“Without shying away from the major challenges of the past year, there are many reasons to be optimistic about the future, both on and off the field.
“I got a number of offers, but the opportunity to bring this club back to the forefront of English cricket and fully realize us was very attractive.”