Cricket: Tough ask but new CEO not daunted

ENJOYING CHALLENGE: Pete de Wet, the new CD Cricket chief executive, has hit the ground running. PHOTO/Duncan Brown

LEAVING the shores of South Africa wasn't something Pete de Wet took lightly but when he "stumbled" on the opportunity to work for Central Districts Cricket he didn't lose sleep over it.

"I didn't have to think long and hard about it but, ultimately, I have a very young family so as far as timing is concerned it seemed ideal to take the opportunity," says De Wet who has assumed the mantle of chief executive of the major association office in Napier.

"It was a tough decision but ultimately believe it was the right one for our family."

Born in Johannesburg, the 41-year-old was living for the past three years in Durban where he was CEO of the Sunfoil Dolphins and the KwaZulu Natal Cricket Union (KZN Cricket).

He arrived here on July 29 with wife Taryn and their two daughters, 4-year-old Chyler and 3-year-old Caitlyn, and started moving the mouse on the pad at his workstation from August 4.

"We're expecting another girl in January," says De Wet, after the family settled in Napier.

"It's never easy [leaving home]. It's a life-changing decision," he says. "I had a really good job in South Africa with cricket and it was something I thoroughly enjoyed."

The transition from Durban to Napier had mercifully been a smooth one.

"Since I've got here it's all worked out quite well because my family are settled and well, which was my main priority ... "

De Wet has a background in sports marketing and major event management, a business he sold before his departure. He replaces interim CEO Chris Lander who was at the helm after Neil "Pods" Hood suddenly resigned in May last year.

A former Horowhenua rep, Hood brought a regionally-acclaimed grassroots element with his accounting nous in a bid to help pull CD out of its financial doldrums.

De Wet has only played cricket at a social competitive level but has coached the summer code and umpired.

"I have competitively played rugby, soccer, water polo, tennis and athletics."

In his office, De Wet has "hit the ground running" and is "enjoying it so far".

He says the portfolio with CD is remarkably similar to the one he had KZN Cricket.

"They pose similar challenges, as far as geography is concerned."

However, it was marginally easier there because all the players were based in Durban as opposed to players scattered around in the sprawling CD catchment area.

"The opportunity to come work for an MA [major association] , as far as New Zealand Cricket is concerned, has a lot of opportunities and potential so I'm really looking forward to that."

The spread of the CD region in itself strikes De Wet as a challenge.

"Our districts stand on both North and South Islands which speaks volumes on how big the region is."

His visits to those districts have revealed "positive energy" about playing the game.

The availability of facilities and aptitude of administrators have struck a chord with him, leading to the conclusion that CD cricket is in a good space.

While CD Cricket has had its share of financial challenges along the way he doesn't believe it's in the doldrums.

"The reality is we have to get to a point where we can start to ensure that we post a surplus for CD cricket so that we can protect CD Cricket's future."

De Wet says there is certainly a willingness to accomplish that and it is his priority to ensure that it transpires.

"It's certainly not something that's going to happen overnight. It'll most probably take two to three years for us to put a meaningful plan in place to a point where we can be financially more dependent.

"It's going to be tough but it doesn't scare me in anyway."

He suspects the key to achieving that goal is understanding where CD Cricket's commercial viability lies.

"We need to try to align that with partners out there who are prepared to invest in community cricket.

"You know there's been a fundamental change in the way the professional game is managed, as far as the commercial terms are concerned, so we don't have any role over that anymore but we certainly have a measure of the community game."
De Wet is mindful there are some companies out there that do want to be seen to be doing the right thing but the challenge is trying to have a grasp of what that entails.

"We need to understand what's important to those brands to try to walk down the road with them so that they can see we have a similar desire to grow grassroots cricket."

He is delighted with the direction Devon Hotel CD Stags coach Heinrich Malan, also of South Africa, has taken with the men's flagship team into the domestic arena as they prepare to venture into their fourth season under his tenure.

"I think you can see the benefits of having a coach for three [seasons]. Heinrich obviously spends a lot of time and effort in getting the squad to the point where they are so it's a testament to the great job he's doing where we were able to hang on to every contracted player we've had going into the new cricket season."

De Wet feels it's heartening that the players want to play cricket and for CD.

"You know, success is a strange thing and in sport it's particularly strange because one bad day and you're suddenly off the perch but we've got a really solid foundation being built here so I expect we'll continue to see successes into the future."

While De Wet is looking at the make up of CD he doesn't foresee any major changes because, in looking at the work to date, he believes its "an optimal structure".

"We may need to tweak one or two things but I don't see any fundamental shifting from what's been done in the past."

With the major association's agreement with NZ Cricket coming to an end of its 10-year cycle, he is excited about the opportunity to change the way things have been operating.

"The timing for me is good so I foresee a lot of success going into the future."

Ask him if his arrival and Malan's presence will add a South African flavour to the way CD will play cricket and reflect his country's ascendancy, De Wet emphasises a few variables he feels that don't paint such a stark picture.

He doesn't think South African cricket beats the New Zealand version hands down but, if anything, believes there's a lot of similarities in the way the sport is structured.

"I think, as far as New Zealand is concerned, there's such a small population to draw skills from so it's already a feather in its cap to produce a highly successful men's and women's team."

South African-born players have made their presence felt from age-group representative level up to the Black Caps domain in the past few years.

In July, Otago Cricket announced the appointment of Rob Walter, of South Africa, as Volts coach.

Walter is a former Proteas assistant coach who also fulfilled a similar role with IPL franchises in India.

De Wet says it's not as easy as taking what works in South Africa and transplanting it in New Zealand because there are differences.

"I've certainly learned a fair deal working in cricket in South Africa and we'll look to use that experience here and potentially look at how we can do things differently in unearthing talented cricketers."

With McLean Park as the third biggest venue in the country to NZ Cricket he salutes Napier City Council for its support to secure international fixtures.