Steve Patterson returns to Yorkshire CCC as club strengthens its board
YORKSHIRE County Cricket Club has strengthened its board with the appointment of former captain Steve Patterson, University of Leeds Pro Vice-Chancellor Karen Birch and hospitality industry leader Kate Nicholls as non-executive directors.
The trio bring experience from elite sport, higher education, business, hospitality and government relations at a key time for the club as it embarks on its new ten-year strategy, Chasing Glory.
Patterson spent his entire professional career with Yorkshire, winning back-to-back County Championships in 2014 and 2015 before captaining the club between 2018 and 2022. Since retiring from cricket, he has built a career in property development and investment.
Birch brings senior leadership experience from the University of Leeds, alongside expertise in health, exercise and wellbeing. Nicholls, chair of UKHospitality, has extensive experience across the hospitality, tourism and leisure sectors and has advised industry and government through major challenges including Covid, Brexit and the cost-of-living crisis.
Yorkshire chair Colin Graves said the appointments would give the board “a diverse blend of first-class experience” as the club looks to transform its fortunes.
Chasing Glory aims to return Yorkshire to the top of the game, with plans to strengthen the player pathway, invest in Headingley and cricket infrastructure, and build teams capable of consistently winning trophies.
Subject to confirmation of the appointments at the club’s next AGM, the board will consist of the following: Colin Graves CBE - chair; Ian Townsend – member-nominated non-executive director and deputy chair; Sanjay Patel MBE – Group CEO; Sanjeev Gandhi – non-executive director; Katherine Sciver-Brunt OBE - non-executive director; Jane Ellison – non-executive director; Karen Birch – non-executive director; Kate Nicholls OBE – non-executive director; Steve Patterson – non-executive director.