Malloy Takes Over as NZC Chair as Puketapu-Lyndon Departs

Kevin Malloy has been elected Chair of New Zealand Cricket, succeeding Diana Puketapu-Lyndon, who stepped down from the board at the organisation’s 132nd Annual General Meeting after completing the maximum nine years as a director.

Puketapu-Lyndon joined the board in 2017 and became the first woman, and the first person of Māori descent, to chair NZC in 2023. Malloy, a director since 2019 and previously Deputy Chair, was elected by the board at a meeting held immediately after the AGM.

His background lies in advertising and marketing, with 29 years at global media agency Starcom where he served as CEO of International Operations and global client director on the Coca-Cola and Procter and Gamble accounts. He also chaired Vivaki’s Australia and New Zealand operations. Malloy is set to conclude a three-year term as Chair of Super Rugby Pacific in December and currently sits on the boards of Kiwibank and Tourism New Zealand.

The board noted his “strong background in sport governance, alongside three decades of international commercial leadership”.

Board Changes

Raewyn Lovett ONZM and Jono Brent were elected to the board on the recommendation of the Board Appointments Panel. Anna Campbell and Ali Shanks were re-elected for three-year renewals. Mike Devonshire was not recommended for reappointment and left the board after three years of service.

Lovett brings more than two decades of governance experience, having chaired Sport New Zealand, High Performance Sport New Zealand and Netball New Zealand, and co-chaired the International Working Group on Women and Sport. Brent, a Chartered Accountant and former infrastructure sector chief executive, chaired Canterbury Cricket for three years and led the development of the Community Cricket New Zealand strategy over the past 12 months.

Financial Position and Honours

The AGM adopted audited financial statements for the year ending July 31 2026, confirming a deficit of $7.3 million against a budgeted deficit of $1.8 million, as first advised in August. Reserves stand at $25.2 million, with the organisation forecasting a surplus of more than $10 million for FY27, driven largely by the India men’s tour.

Former NZC and ICC Chair Greg Barclay CNZM was elected a Life Member in recognition of his contribution to the game and sports governance. Former players Rachel Pullar and Gary Troup ONZM, and international umpires Steve Dunne and Steve Woodward, were appointed Honorary Members. Mark Greatbatch continues as NZC President for the second year of his three-year term.

NZC Board: Kevin Malloy (Chair), Bill Birnie, Jono Brent, Anna Campbell, Raewyn Lovett, Ali Shanks, Roger Twose.

                                               

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