A key figure in the rebranding of a global managerial outfit has decided to part ways with the company. 

International Boxing Hall of Fame-elected Bob Yalen announced his resignation as CEO of MTK Global. The announcement comes in the wake of a growing scandal surrounding company co-founder Daniel Kinahan, who was named by the U.S. government and the High Court of Ireland before them as continuing to play an integral role in the Kinahan Organized Crime Group (KOCG). 

"We regret to announce that Bob Yalen has today stepped down as CEO of MTK Global for personal reasons," MTK Global revealed Tuesday in a press statement. "We would like to thank him for all of his efforts on behalf of the business and his leadership of our team."

Yalen joined the managerial conglomerate in 2018, serving as president of the company beginning October 2018—roughly one year after the company changed its name from MGM (Macklins Gym Marbella—named after co-founder and former middleweight title challenger Matthew Macklin) as part of a rebranding process. The move to MTK came after Yalen made his mark in the sport as a television executive with ABC Sports and ESPN, while having also produced the boxing coverage for NBC Sports during the 1996 and 2000 Olympics. 

The longtime industry executive has also acted as a consultant for Showtime, CBS Sports and Fox Sports, is a six-time Sports Emmy winner and long regarded as a leading boxing historian. His body of work was well represented by Hall-of-Fame electors during the 2021 voting season, with Yalen to gain enshrinement in June. 

MTK announced Yalen as its new CEO in June 2020, replacing company owner Sandra Vaughan—who purchased MTK from Macklin in 2017— during what was described at the time as a 'transitional phase in the business.' The move came during the last round of consistently negative press surrounding the company, on the heels of lineal/WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury—the centerpiece attraction of MTK Global. Fury publicly confirmed in a viral video that Kinahan served as his adviser and who inform allegedly finalized a deal for an undisputed heavyweight championship showdown with then-WBA/IBF/WBO/IBO titlist Anthony Joshua.

Less than two years later, Yalen has opted to move on to the next phase of his Hall of Fame career. 

"I am incredibly proud of the success of MTK Global and I feel privileged to have served as President and CEO since 2018," Yalen said in the company statement. “However, the pressure of the last few weeks has been particularly intense.

"I need to consider the impact on myself and my family. So after four years leading MTK, I think it's time for me to step aside to take on new challenges."

The move comes just five days after MTK released a statement insisting that the company "parted ways with Mr Kinahan in February 2017. He has had no interest in the business since then, and will have no future involvement with us."

The claim was made in the wake of the U.S. Department of Treasury issuing sanctions on Kinahan and six other individuals named as key figures of the KOGC, complete with a reward of up to $5,000,000 for information leading to the financial disruption of the crime group, or the arrest and/or conviction of Kinahan, father Christy Kinahan Sr. and brother Christy Jr.

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox