Vijay Mallya will stay connected with Royal Challengers Bangalore in his role as ‘chief mentor’ © AFP
Beleaguered businessman Vijay Mallya has stepped down as director of Royal Challengers Sports Pvt Ltd (RCSPL), which runs the Royals Challengers Bangalore IPL franchise.
Amrit Thomas, newly appointed chairman of the RCSPL, will be the man in charge of the franchise and the main point of contact with the BCCI.
RCSPL is a fully owned subsidiary of United Spirits, which in turn is part of the Diageo Plc, a UK-based business group. Thomas will continue to perform his original role as the president and chief marketing officer of United Spirits.
Mallya, who is currently in the UK, is the subject of several investigations by federal authorities in India following the collapse of some of his business interests and the seizure of several of his assets. On February 25, he announced he was stepping down from his positions as non-executive director and chairman at United Spirits. As for his association with RCB, which he bought in 2008 for $111.6 million, Mallya said he would become the franchise’s “chief mentor”.
“I have been passionate about this team since inception and am determined to do whatever I can to win the IPL trophy. I am glad that my son, Siddharth, will remain as a director [of Royal Challengers Bangalore] as he is equally passionate about RCB,” Mallya had said in a media release.
Notifying the BCCI about the change of guard at Royal Challengers, RCSPL, in a letter sent on March 7, said Mallya will carry out a “limited” role in his role as the chief mentor.
“Dr Mallya will have the honorary title of chief mentor for as long as his son Siddharth Mallya remains on the RCSPL board. This is the limited role which enables the various members of the RCSPL board should they wish to consult him. In light of the above, this letter is to confirm to you that following this change, Dr Mallya has no longer authority to represent or bind RCSPL or RCB team and its operations. Dr Mallya’s resignation has not resulted in any change of ownership or control of RCSPL or USL, or any transfer of any part of the business of RCSPL,” the letter stated, according to the Indian Express. The letter was marked to BCCI president Shashank Manohar, board secretary Anurag Thakur and IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla.
Nagraj Gollapudi is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo