Payne appointed as acting chief executive at County

Ray Payne has been appointed as acting chief executive of Northants Cricket following the departure of David Smith last week
The County GroundThe County Ground
The County Ground

Payne has been on the board at Wantage Road since the start of the year with his focus on the commercial side of the business.

A Northampton local, Payne has spent his career in the hospitality and leisure industry, most notably as managing director of the Champneys Group.

He said: “I am delighted to be given this opportunity by the board during this transitional time.

“I look forward to further developing the recent progress made with the club’s facilities and the many opportunities that exist as we approach the new season.”

Club chairman Gavin Warren added: “We are very pleased to have Ray as our new CEO.

“He comes to the club with a wealth of experience in moving businesses forward and has a great commercial vision.

“Ray has been with us on the board for a number of months now, so he has seen how match days are run and how the club works as a business.”