Full-time NZC post for Heal

Cricket365
October 23, 2013

Interim chair Stuart Heal has been appointed to chair New Zealand Cricket for the next year and he will introduce a new shared leadership approach utilising the skills of the new-look board.

The Central Otago businessman and former chair of Otago Cricket was unanimously voted in by the board at their first meeting in Auckland on Wednesday.

Heal has been a NZC board member since 2008 and is the former Chief Executive of Combined Rural Traders – a role he held for nearly 20 years. He currently holds a number of other governance roles including being the Chair of Pioneer Generation, Southern Primary Health Organisation and the University Bookshop, and a director of the Southern Rural Fire Association.

Heal says he is looking forward to leading NZC into an exciting era as we countdown to hosting ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

"Hosting one of the world's biggest sporting events is a huge opportunity for both NZC and the sport in this country. We need to ensure we do everything possible to reap the benefits of having the world's best players on our shores."

Heal was keen to see a number of the duties of the chair shared around the new-look board, with former NZC CEO Martin Snedden taking responsibility for attending International Cricket Council meetings. A high performance advisory group has been established, and will be headed by Don Mackinnon and include former internationals Sir Richard Hadlee, Geoff Allott and Snedden.

Heal admits the last year has been a time of significant change at NZC with the move of the commercial arm of the business to Auckland, a new coach and captain for the BLACKCAPS, a new constitution and a new-look board.

"It's now essential that we work together with CEO David White and his management team to consolidate those changes."

The new board was voted in by delegates representing all Major Associations and District Associations at a Special General Meeting in Auckland late last month. The vote was the result of the new constitution unanimously approved by the associations in July.