Copsey has spent the last seven years at Harlequins

Copsey takes up his new post next month after quitting as managing director of Wasps' Premiership rivals Harlequins.

The Essex-born 42-year-old said: "It's a job that offers a number of new challenges that I'm excited about."

Wasps vice-chairman John O'Connell said: "He has the right combination of an intimate knowledge of professional rugby and proven business credentials."

Copsey succeeds David Davies, who was Wasps' chief executive for the past three years.

Having played much of his career for Llanelli, he spent two years as the Scarlets' marketing manager, before joined Quins in the summer of 2000.

Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan said Copsey's experience of rugby in both the amateur and professional eras made him ideally suited to the job.

"Tony came through playing amateur but has been in the business side in the professional era - that's very good," he said.

"The game is different now and requires different things to be financially supported - if you have an innate understanding of that and where it's comes from, you have a better chance of moving it to the right place."

Harlequins chief executive Mark Evans said: "Tony has been central in many of the developments here in that time, and we wish him all the very best in his new role at Wasps."