WARRINGTON Wolves are set to lose their Chief Executive Roger Draper, who is taking a leading role with the Rugby Football League.
Draper, who announced a 300 day plan to transform the club when he arrived in March 2015, which included a new brand identity and better fan engagement, will take on an executive role at Rugby League HQ, after impressing the games hierarchy during his 20 month spell at the Wolves.
In a club statement the Wolves said: “Having made a huge and significant, positive impact at the Warrington Wolves Roger Draper – Chief Executive – will be moving on to a new challenge at the Rugby Football League.
“Roger has been appointed as Super League Executive Director and RFL Chief Commercial Officer. He will take up the role in early December 2016.”
Professor Steven Broomhead, chairman of Warrington Wolves, said: “Roger has had a significant impact in modernising our club. His leadership has produced much-improved fan and sponsor engagement, greatly improved match-day and customer experiences and an overall, much better professional standard within the club which has just enjoyed a very successful 2016 season.”
Roger Draper said: “It has been a great privilege to lead Warrington Wolves and I have loved every minute of my time here at The Halliwell Jones Stadium. I will miss many things but most of all I will miss all the people involved in this great club – the Board of Directors and hardworking colleagues and of course our amazing Hardwired fans.
“While we have achieved a great deal in the last few years, there is still lots to be done, but I think under the strong leadership of the Warrington Wolves Board, the club remains very well placed to achieve its goal of becoming one of the best Rugby League clubs in the world.”
Although the club failed to deliver on the field during his first year in the role, this year they reached Wembley and the Grand Final and finished top of the league, with an ambition to become the “best rugby league club in the world.”
Many were surprised when Draper, who was previously Chief Executive of both Sport England and The Lawn Tennis Association, took up the role with the Wolves and few will be surprised that he has decided to take a more senior role within the sport – although having settled in Warrington, it was still a tough
decision to take on the new challenge.
Draper, who also played for London Broncos, has been involved in the business of sport for over 20 years.
He is a former England students international Rugby League player and started his career at the RFL in 1992 as London Rugby League Development Manager, where he also played with the London Broncos. During his time at Sport England Draper was accountable for investment of £450 million in sporting projects across England and was Accounting Officer for the completion of the Wembley National Stadium project .
He also played a key role in the successful London 2012 Olympic bid and led the completion of the £120 million English Institute of Sport, including major new centres at Bath and Loughborough. Whilst leading British tennis he completed a groundbreaking £25 million commercial partner deal with Aegon and grew the turnover of the business by 45% to £65 million.
The Wolves will now start the process to find his successor.
