Kevin Malloy was appointed chairperson of New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on 13 November 2026 after his predecessor, Diana Puketapu-Lyndon, stepped down from the board having completed the maximum nine-year term permitted for a director. Malloy, who had been serving as deputy chair, was chosen by fellow directors at a board meeting held immediately after NZC's 132nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Auckland.

Malloy's Background and Vision

Malloy has been an NZC director since 2019, bringing a blend of sports governance and corporate leadership to the role. He spent 29 years with global media agency Starcom, holding postings in London, Hong Kong, and New York, where he managed worldwide accounts for Coca-Cola and Procter & Gamble before rising to CEO of International Operations. He also currently chairs Super Rugby Pacific — a tenure set to conclude in December — and serves on the boards of Kiwibank and Tourism New Zealand.

'It is an honour to be asked to lead NZC as Chair, and it's a responsibility I take on with a strong understanding of how much the game means to so many New Zealanders,' Malloy said in a statement on Thursday.

Acknowledging the outgoing chair, Malloy added: '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.'

Diana Puketapu-Lyndon's Historic Tenure

Diana Puketapu-Lyndon joined the NZC board in 2017 and, six years later, made history as the first woman and the first person of Māori descent to chair the organisation. Her nine-year term — spanning a turbulent period that included pandemic-era scheduling disruptions and significant structural reforms in global cricket — is widely regarded as one of the most consequential in NZC's recent governance history.

Board Composition Changes at the AGM

The AGM also brought notable changes to the broader board. On the advice of the Board Appointments Panel, members elected Raewyn Lovett ONZM and Jono Brent as new directors, while Anna Campbell and Ali Shanks were returned for fresh three-year terms. Mike Devonshire, who was due for renewal, was not recommended for reappointment and stepped down after three years.

Lovett brings more than 20 years of sports governance experience, having chaired Sport New Zealand, High Performance Sport New Zealand, and Netball New Zealand, as well as co-chaired the International Working Group on Women and Sport. Brent is a chartered accountant and former CANZ member who led Canterbury Cricket as chair for three years and, over the past year, spearheaded the development of the Community Cricket New Zealand strategy.

'My thanks go to Mike Devonshire for his valuable contributions over the past three years, and I want to welcome Raewyn and Jono, who bring outstanding governance, financial, and community cricket experience to the table,' Malloy said.

Financial Position and the Road Ahead

Malloy assumes the chairmanship as NZC emerges from a difficult financial year. Audited accounts for the 12 months to 31 July 2026, adopted at the AGM, revealed a deficit of NZD 7.3 million — well above the NZD 1.8 million budgeted. However, with reserves of NZD 25.2 million, NZC is projecting a surplus of more than NZD 10 million for FY27, largely on the back of India's men's all-format tour, which is reportedly drawing record attendances.

Looking further ahead, Malloy flagged NZ20 — the board's preferred model for the domestic T20 competition — as an 'aspirational concept with incredible potential,' and said positive updates from the NZ20 Establishment Committee were expected in the near future. NZC is also preparing to co-host the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2028.

Separately, former NZC and ICC chair Greg Barclay CNZM was elected a Life Member at the AGM. Former players Rachel Pullar and Gary Troup ONZM, along with international umpires Steve Dunne and Steve Woodward, were made Honorary Members. Ex-New Zealand cricketer Mark Greatbatch remains NZC president and is now in the second year of his three-year term.