Yorkshire County Cricket Club has appointed Mitesh Velani as its new Chief Financial and Operations Officer, effective September 16. Velani joins Yorkshire from Saracens, where he held various leadership roles, including Finance Director and Chief Executive.
Velani’s appointment comes amidst significant changes at Yorkshire, both on and off the field. The club is currently searching for a new Director of Cricket and Head Coach, and is also considering demutualization, which would require a 75% vote from members.
Velani’s experience at Saracens, which was fined and docked points for breaching the English Premiership’s salary cap, has been noted by Yorkshire. However, the club has emphasized Velani’s contributions to Saracens’ success, including “transformation and innovation” during a decade of sustained success.
Velani expressed his excitement about joining Yorkshire, stating his intention to “use everything I have learned to help support Yorkshire at this exciting time.” He aims to “deliver success at Headingley and produce exceptional results, underpinned by robust commercial foundations.”
Yorkshire also announced the appointment of Sanjay Patel as Interim Chief Executive, effective next month. Patel, who was instrumental in the creation of The Hundred, will join Yorkshire’s board, which has been led by Colin Graves since February.
Graves has been vocal about the need for demutualization, citing financial concerns and the interest of potential investors. He has stated that “Yorkshire’s going to fall into these financial problems time and time again” if members do not vote in favor of demutualization.
Yorkshire’s recent appointments signal a period of transition and ambition for the club. Velani and Patel bring a wealth of experience and expertise, and their contributions will be crucial as Yorkshire navigates its current challenges and strives for future success.
