Kevin Malloy Elected New Zealand Cricket Chair as Diana Puketapu-Lyndon Completes Nine-Year Term
Kevin Malloy has been elected chair of New Zealand Cricket (NZC), taking over from Diana Puketapu-Lyndon after she completed the maximum nine years on the organisation’s board. The leadership change was confirmed at NZC’s 132nd Annual General Meeting, with the board selecting Malloy at a meeting held immediately after the AGM.
The appointment comes at an important time for cricket in New Zealand. NZC is managing financial pressures, planning for major international events and considering the future of its domestic T20 competition. For fans, players and community clubs, the decisions made under Malloy’s leadership could influence how the game develops at every level.
From Deputy Chair to NZC Chair
Malloy has served as an NZC director since 2019 and was previously the board’s deputy chair. He brings extensive commercial and governance experience, including a 29-year career with global media agency Starcom. During that time, he held senior international roles, including CEO of International Operations and global client director for major accounts such as Coca-Cola and Procter & Gamble. He also chaired Vivaki’s Australia and New Zealand operations.
His experience extends beyond advertising and marketing. Malloy is completing a three-year term as chair of Super Rugby Pacific, due to conclude in December, and currently serves on the boards of Kiwibank and Tourism New Zealand. NZC said his background combines sports governance with three decades of international commercial leadership.
In his first comments as chair, Malloy thanked Puketapu-Lyndon for her service and acknowledged the challenges she faced during her time leading the organisation. He described the role as an honour and said he understood the importance cricket holds for people across New Zealand.
Recognising Diana Puketapu-Lyndon’s contribution
Puketapu-Lyndon joined the NZC board in 2017 and became chair in 2023, making history as the first woman and the first person of Māori descent to hold the position. Her departure follows the completion of the board’s nine-year limit for directors.
Malloy praised her leadership through what he called one of the most demanding periods in the game’s recent history. Her tenure included significant changes across the international cricket landscape, as well as ongoing questions about the sport’s financial sustainability, participation and place in a crowded entertainment market.
He also thanked Mike Devonshire, who left the board after three years. Devonshire’s term had come up for renewal, but he was not recommended for another term by the Board Appointments Panel.
New directors bring sport, finance and community experience
Raewyn Lovett ONZM and Jono Brent were elected to the board following recommendations from the Board Appointments Panel. Anna Campbell and Ali Shanks were re-elected for new three-year terms.
Lovett brings more than 20 years of governance experience in New Zealand and international sport. Her previous roles include chairing Sport New Zealand, High Performance Sport New Zealand and Netball New Zealand. She has also co-chaired the International Working Group on Women and Sport, giving her experience across both high-performance and participation-focused organisations.
Brent is a chartered accountant and former chief executive in the infrastructure sector. He chaired Canterbury Cricket for three years and, over the past 12 months, has led the development of the Community Cricket New Zealand strategy. His appointment adds financial, executive and grassroots cricket knowledge to the board.
Welcoming the new directors, Malloy said they would contribute valuable governance, financial and community expertise. The NZC board now comprises Kevin Malloy as chair, alongside Bill Birnie, Jono Brent, Anna Campbell, Raewyn Lovett, Ali Shanks and Roger Twose.
NZC’s priorities: global growth, domestic cricket and participation
Malloy said cricket was changing rapidly in New Zealand and internationally, creating both challenges and opportunities. The organisation is looking ahead to major tours and ICC events for the BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS, while also preparing to co-host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2028.
He pointed to strong interest in an inbound tour by India, which has attracted record attendances. A major touring side can bring substantial attention to the game, support ticket and broadcast revenues, and introduce new audiences to cricket. However, Malloy stressed that NZC’s responsibilities extend beyond marquee fixtures and the international teams.
One key issue is NZ20, the proposed future model for New Zealand’s domestic T20 competition. The board has identified it as its preferred option, citing its potential to strengthen the domestic game and make the competition more compelling for supporters. Malloy said work was continuing through the NZ20 Establishment Committee, with further updates expected.
He also emphasised the importance of community cricket and high-performance systems. With sport and entertainment competing for people’s time, NZC must find ways to keep cricket accessible, engaging and relevant—from local clubs and junior programmes to the national teams. That balance will be central to any long-term strategy for growing participation and sustaining the game.
Financial results and cricket’s outlook
At the AGM, members adopted NZC’s audited financial statements for the year ending July 31, 2026. The organisation reported a deficit of $7.3 million, higher than the budgeted deficit of $1.8 million. NZC had previously advised members of the expected result in August.
Despite the shortfall, the organisation reported reserves of $25.2 million and forecast a surplus of more than $10 million for the 2026–27 financial year. The projected improvement is expected to be driven largely by the men’s tour of India. The figures underline how strongly cricket finances can depend on major tours and the importance of building reliable income across international, domestic and community activities.
The AGM also recognised significant service to the sport. Former NZC and International Cricket Council chair Greg Barclay CNZM was elected an NZC Life Member for his contribution to cricket and sports governance. Former players Rachel Pullar and Gary Troup ONZM, along with international umpires Steve Dunne and Steve Woodward, were named Honorary Members. Former player and coach Mark Greatbatch will continue as NZC president for the second year of his three-year term.
As Malloy begins his tenure, the board faces several connected questions: how to make domestic cricket more attractive, how to strengthen community participation, and how to manage the financial opportunities and risks of the international calendar. There is no simple prediction for how those priorities will reshape the game, but the decisions taken now will help determine whether New Zealand cricket can convert major events and public interest into lasting growth.
