New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has appointed Kevin Malloy as its new Chair following the departure of Diana Puketapu-Lyndon, who completed the maximum nine-year tenure on the organisation’s board. Malloy, an experienced sports administrator and business executive, was elected by the NZC Board at a meeting held immediately after the organisation’s 132nd Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The leadership change marks an important moment for New Zealand Cricket as the governing body looks to strengthen its domestic cricket structure, expand the game’s popularity and prepare for major international commitments in the coming years.
Puketapu-Lyndon stepped down after serving on the NZC Board since 2017. She made history in 2023 by becoming the first woman and the first person of Māori descent to hold the position of NZC Chair. During her tenure, she played a significant role in the organisation’s governance and leadership through a challenging period for the sport.
Malloy, who joined the NZC Board in 2019, previously served as Deputy Chair. His appointment is expected to bring considerable experience in commercial leadership, international business and sports governance to the organisation.
Kevin Malloy Brings Extensive Business and Sports Governance Experience
The newly appointed NZC Chair has an extensive professional background spanning advertising, marketing and international business operations. Over the years, he has worked across New Zealand, New York, Hong Kong and London, gaining experience in some of the world’s major commercial markets.
One of the most significant periods of his professional career was his 29-year association with global media agency Starcom. During this time, Malloy held senior leadership responsibilities, including serving as CEO of International Operations and global client director for major international accounts such as Coca-Cola and Procter & Gamble.
He also chaired Vivaki’s Australia and New Zealand operations, further strengthening his experience in managing large-scale commercial businesses and international teams.
Apart from his corporate career, Malloy has maintained a strong association with sports administration. He is completing a three-year term as Chair of Super Rugby Pacific in December and currently serves on the boards of Kiwibank and Tourism New Zealand.
Welcoming his appointment, New Zealand Cricket highlighted his combination of commercial and sporting experience. The board stated that Malloy brings a strong background in sports governance alongside three decades of international commercial leadership.
His professional experience could prove valuable as NZC navigates the changing economics of international cricket, domestic competitions and the growing competition for audiences across different sporting and entertainment platforms.
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Raewyn Lovett and Jono Brent Join NZC Board
Alongside the appointment of its new Chair, the 132nd NZC AGM also brought several changes to the organisation’s board.
Following recommendations from the Board Appointments Panel, Raewyn Lovett ONZM and Jono Brent were elected as new board members. Meanwhile, Anna Campbell and Ali Shanks were re-elected after completing their respective three-year terms and becoming eligible for renewal.
Mike Devonshire, whose tenure had also come up for renewal, was not recommended for another term by the appointments panel. Consequently, he departed the board after completing three years of service.
The appointment of the two new members is expected to strengthen the board’s expertise in sports governance, financial management and community cricket development.
Lovett brings more than two decades of governance experience across New Zealand and international sport. Her previous leadership positions include Chair of Sport New Zealand, High Performance Sport New Zealand and Netball New Zealand. She has also served as co-chair of the International Working Group on Women and Sport.
Her experience across multiple sporting organisations is expected to contribute to NZC’s governance framework and wider development objectives.
Brent, meanwhile, brings a combination of financial, corporate and cricket administration experience. A Chartered Accountant and former chief executive in the infrastructure sector, he previously chaired Canterbury Cricket for three years.
Over the past 12 months, he has also been leading the development of the Community Cricket New Zealand strategy. His involvement is particularly relevant to NZC’s efforts to strengthen participation and improve the structure of cricket at the grassroots level.
Malloy Pays Tribute to Outgoing Chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon
Following his election, Malloy acknowledged the contribution of his predecessor and thanked her for her nine years of service to New Zealand Cricket.
He described it as an honour to lead the organisation and recognised the responsibility associated with representing a sport that holds considerable importance for people across the country.
Malloy also praised Puketapu-Lyndon’s leadership during one of the most demanding periods in the recent history of New Zealand cricket.
He extended his appreciation to Mike Devonshire for his contributions over the previous three years and welcomed Lovett and Brent to the board, highlighting the governance, financial and community cricket experience they bring.
The leadership transition comes at a time when New Zealand Cricket is preparing for several important developments, including major international tours, ICC tournaments and changes to its domestic T20 competition.
New Zealand Cricket Focuses on the Future of the Game
Speaking about the challenges and opportunities ahead, Malloy emphasised that cricket is evolving rapidly in New Zealand and across the international sporting landscape.
He believes NZC must adapt to changing audience preferences, commercial opportunities and the growing competition from other sports and entertainment platforms.
The organisation is currently experiencing an exciting period, with India’s ongoing tour of New Zealand attracting record attendances. Additionally, the BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS have major international assignments and ICC events scheduled in the coming years.
Another significant milestone on the horizon is the 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which New Zealand will co-host. The tournament presents an important opportunity to increase cricket’s visibility, attract new audiences and strengthen the sport’s commercial and international profile.
For Malloy, these developments underline the importance of building a sustainable cricketing structure that supports both international success and the growth of the domestic game.
NZ20 Remains a Key Priority for the New Leadership
One of the important areas highlighted by Malloy following his appointment was NZ20, an aspirational concept selected by the NZC Board as its preferred option for the future of the country’s domestic T20 competition.
The proposed initiative has generated considerable interest because of its potential to reshape the domestic T20 landscape and create new commercial opportunities for New Zealand cricket.
Malloy acknowledged the interest surrounding the concept and indicated that considerable work was already underway. He expressed hope that the NZ20 Establishment Committee would provide positive updates in the near future.
Although NZ20 is an important strategic priority, the new Chair made it clear that the organisation’s responsibilities extend well beyond professional and commercial cricket.
The board is equally focused on community participation, grassroots development and maintaining strong high-performance systems.
With several sports and entertainment products competing for public attention, NZC recognises the need to make cricket more accessible, engaging and relevant to New Zealanders.
Developing the domestic structure while maintaining a strong connection with local communities will therefore remain central to the organisation’s long-term strategy.