Mark McCafferty to step down as Premiership Rugby chief executive with UKTV CEO Darren Childs announced as replacement

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Mark McCafferty will step down as the chief executive of Premiership Rugby at the end of the season in order to take up a new role with CVC Capital Partners, the equity firm that recently bought nearly a third of the domestic top flight for a £230m investment. McCafferty has been at the helm of the Premiership since 2005, but will end his 14-year reign in June and will be succeeded by media business executive Darren Childs, who is stepping down from his current role as chief executive of UKTV and has a track record of “expanding audiences and growing digital platforms”. Former Rugby Football Union chief executive Ian Ritchie, who returned to the sport last year to take up the role as Premiership Rugby chairman, hailed the role of McCafferty in growing the professional club game since replacing Howard Thomas in 2005, and welcomed the arrival of Childs as his successor. open image in gallery Darren Childs will replace McCafferty as Premiership Rugby chief executive "I am excited about the challenge that working in a new industry brings, especially one on the cusp of a transformation like rugby,” Childs said.