Yorkshire CEO resigns amid racism scandal

English county Yorkshire's chief executive Mark Arthur followed chairman Roger Hutton by resigning from his post on Thursday in the wake of Azeem Rafiq racism scandal. Arthur, who took over the role in 2013, oversaw Yorkshire's rise in England's domestic circuit as they clinched back-to-back County Championships in 2014 and 2015.

"Today the board at Yorkshire County Cricket Club has accepted the resignation of Mark Arthur as CEO," Lord Kamlesh Patel, the YCCC's new chairman, said in a press release. "We thank him for his tenure."

Arthur's departure follows on the heels of the England and Wales Cricket Board's decision to suspend the county from hosting major matches after which multiple sponsors including Nike, Emeral and Yorkshire Tea pulled out.

Last month, Yorkshire deemed that no disciplinary action was needed against its members and staff after launching an independent investigation into allegations of institutional racism by former captain Rafiq. After starting regulatory process last week, the ECB vowed to find the people responsible for the wrongdoing which was followed by Hutton's resignation, who called for others in the club's hierarchy to follow him.

The club, now headed by new chairman Patel, confirmed that Rafiq was offered was awarded a six-figure sum and offered an unreserved apology from Patel, both for the treatment he had received in his time at the club and and for their attempts to impose a gagging order in return for a settlement.

"This is an important moment for the club which is ready to move forward with new leadership, which will be vital in driving the change we urgently need. We know there is still much work to be done and more difficult decisions to be made. We need to rebuild the trust of the fans, the cricketing world and the public." Patel said in a statement.