Geoff Allott Appointed as New CEO of New Zealand Cricket
Geoff Allott Takes the Helm at New Zealand Cricket
A File image of NZ's former international pacer Geoff Allott(Photo: @Baalii/X)
Auckland, April 28: New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has officially announced the appointment of Geoff Allott, a former international fast bowler, as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1.
Allott, who played for the BlackCaps in 10 Tests and 31 ODIs from 1996 to 2000, brings nearly two decades of cricket administration experience, complemented by significant business acumen and strong connections in India and the wider South Asian region.
In a statement released by NZC, Allott expressed his enthusiasm for the role, stating, "Having represented New Zealand as a player, served as General Manager of Cricket, and been a board director for over eight years, I have a profound connection to this organization and our sport. I am eager to collaborate with the board, players, staff, member associations, and commercial partners to cultivate strong relationships, promote a positive culture, and achieve exceptional results both on and off the field."
Allott's involvement in cricket governance is extensive. He was a founding member of the New Zealand Cricket Players Association in 2002, served on the Canterbury Cricket board from 2011 to 2013, and joined the NZC board in 2013.
During his eight years as a director, he made significant contributions before stepping down in 2021 as part of the board's rotation policy. His efforts were acknowledged with NZC Life Membership in 2022.
He is the sixth individual to hold the CEO position at NZC, following Scott Weenink's departure in December. Previous CEOs include Chris Doig, Martin Snedden, Justin Vaughan, and David White. Notably, Allott has prior executive experience at NZC, having served as General Manager of Cricket from 2008 to 2010.
While on the board, Allott played a supportive role in the influential 2016 Women and Cricket Report by Sarah Beaman and continues to advocate for the growth of women's and girls' cricket both in New Zealand and internationally.
His comprehensive understanding of the sport encompasses all formats, from Test matches to limited-overs and franchise leagues, and his extensive international connections equip him to address the challenges of the role effectively.
Allott emphasized that unity and collaboration will be key to his leadership style, stating, “By enhancing relationships at all levels of the game, we can ensure that New Zealand cricket remains competitive, sustainable, and thriving.”
NZC Chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon commended the appointment, noting Allott’s unique combination of skills and experience.
“Geoff offers a rare and highly relevant mix of attributes for this role: deep cricket knowledge as a former New Zealand representative, invaluable experience within NZC as a former General Manager of Cricket and board member, and strong commercial leadership as Executive Director of his company QualityNZ,” she remarked.
“We are confident that his playing background, institutional knowledge, business insight, and international perspective position him exceptionally well to guide NZC through its next phase of growth and development. On behalf of the Board, I welcome Geoff and wish him great success. We believe he will be a strong, collaborative leader who will work closely with all stakeholders to create an exciting future for New Zealand cricket,” she added.