Auckland-born Craig Fenton has been appointed as the CEO of New Zealand Rugby Commercial (NZRC). Photo: NZR
Auckland born Craig Fenton has been appointed chief executive of New Zealand Rugby Commercial, replacing Richard Thomas who quit in June.
New Zealand Rugby Commercial (NZRC) was formed as part of the Silver Lake deal, in which the American equity firm bought a stake in NZR.
NZRC controls New Zealand Rugby's commercial assets such as gate revenue, broadcast rights revenue and sponsorship agreements.
Fenton, of Ngāi Te Rangi, will relocate to New Zealand at the end of the year and take up his role in January 2024, after living and working overseas for the past 25 years, most recently in London where he has been Google's Managing Director of Strategy and Operations for UK and Ireland since 2017.
He said he was excited to be moving home to Aotearoa with his family and energised by the role.
"The Teams in Black represent the top of our professional sport, of any team in any sport, and elite performance like this is sustained by the foundations on which it is built.
"Growing the commercial value of NZ Rugby through an engaged and expanding global fanbase is vital to supporting our current players and nourishing the grassroots that represent our future.
"I look forward to working with stakeholders across all levels of the game, honouring our legacy, whilst moving forward in a modern digital world, growing with mana. I am deeply honoured to join the NZ Rugby whānau."
A graduate of London Business School, Fenton's experience including 17 years at global professional services company Accenture where he was sales lead for Europe, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.
He also founded a record label and a film production company.
NZRC Chair Ian Narev said Fenton's mix of digital, sales and marketing, entrepreneurial and general management skills and experiences made him ideally suited to the NZRC role.
"What set him apart from a strong pool of candidates following a thorough global search was his passion for the opportunity. Craig is excited about NZRC's bold strategy, in terms of both global growth and contribution to the local community.
"He wants to build on the capability in the team. And he understands the need to listen carefully, learn and engage constructively with a broad range of stakeholders. We are thrilled he has agreed to join us."