Kevin Malloy Takes the Helm as Chair of New Zealand Cricket

Kevin Malloy Assumes Leadership Role

Kevin Malloy has officially been appointed as the Chair of New Zealand Cricket (NZC), taking over from Diana Puketapu-Lyndon, who resigned from the Board during the 132nd Annual General Meeting after fulfilling her maximum nine-year term as a director. Malloy, who has been part of the NZC Board since 2019 and previously served as Deputy Chair, was elected during a meeting that followed the AGM, as stated in a press release from NZC.

Malloy's Experience and Background

Malloy brings extensive experience in sports governance and has a robust background in international commercial leadership, having spent nearly three decades with the global media agency Starcom. His career has taken him through major cities like London, Hong Kong, and New York, where he managed significant accounts for Coca-Cola and Procter & Gamble, ultimately rising to the position of CEO of International Operations. He is also nearing the end of his three-year term as Chair of Super Rugby Pacific and serves on the boards of Kiwibank and Tourism New Zealand.

Changes in the Board Structure

Puketapu-Lyndon, who joined the Board in 2017, made history in 2023 by becoming the first woman and the first individual of Māori descent to chair NZC. Following recommendations from the Board Appointments Panel, Raewyn Lovett ONZM and Jono Brent were elected to the Board, while Anna Campbell and Ali Shanks were re-elected for another three-year term. Mike Devonshire, whose term was also up for renewal, was not recommended for reappointment and will conclude his three years of service.

New Board Members' Qualifications

Lovett brings over 20 years of governance experience in both New Zealand and international sports, having chaired organizations such as Sport New Zealand and High Performance Sport New Zealand. Brent, a Chartered Accountant for 20 years, has previously served as chief executive in the infrastructure sector and chaired Canterbury Cricket for three years. He has also been instrumental in developing the Community Cricket New Zealand strategy over the past year.

Strategic Vision and Financial Overview

Malloy expressed gratitude towards Puketapu-Lyndon and acknowledged the new Board members. He stated, "I want to begin by thanking Diana, who has given nine years of service to this Board and led with real courage through one of the most demanding periods in the game's recent history. It is an honor to lead NZC as Chair, and I understand the significance of cricket to many New Zealanders. I also want to thank Mike Devonshire for his contributions and welcome Raewyn and Jono, who bring exceptional governance and community cricket experience."

He emphasized the need for cricket to adapt to a rapidly changing environment, noting, "The landscape of cricket is evolving quickly, presenting both challenges and opportunities. We are currently experiencing a vibrant inbound tour by India with record attendance, and our BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS have significant tours and ICC events ahead, including co-hosting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2028."

Malloy also highlighted the potential of NZ20, stating, "NZ20 is an aspirational concept with incredible potential, which is why the Board chose it as the preferred option for our domestic T20 competition. We are hopeful for positive updates from the NZ20 Establishment Committee soon. More broadly, we recognize that cricket must work to grow our game and compete for attention against various sports and entertainment options."

Recognition and Financial Results

During the AGM, former NZC and ICC Chair Greg Barclay CNZM was honored as a Life Member of NZC for his significant contributions to cricket and sports governance. Additionally, former WHITE FERN Rachel Pullar, former BLACKCAP Gary Troup ONZM, and international umpires Steve Dunne and Steve Woodward were appointed Honorary Members for their exceptional service to New Zealand cricket. Mark Greatbatch continues as NZC President for the second year of his three-year term.

Members also approved NZC's audited financial statements for the year ending July 31, 2026, which revealed a deficit of $7.3 million compared to a budgeted deficit of $1.8 million. NZC's reserves are reported at $25.2 million, with a forecasted surplus of over $10 million for FY27, primarily due to the India men's tour.