Former Black Caps fast bowler Geoff Allott has been announced the new chief executive of New Zealand Cricket.
Allott, 54, is currently the executive director of QualityNZ – an export company that provides Kiwi products to South Asia.
Previously, he was New Zealand Cricket’s (NZC) general manager of cricket and a board director.
As reported by the Herald, Allott was the sole contender for the role after former teammate Lee Germon withdrew from the process.
Allott, who represented New Zealand in 10 tests and 31 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) between 1996 and 2000, brings nearly two decades of high-level cricket governance experience to the role, as well as strong business and relationship experience, particularly in terms of India and South Asia.
A founding board member of the New Zealand Cricket Players Association in 2002, he later served on the Canterbury Cricket board (2011–2013) before joining the New Zealand Cricket (NZC) board in 2013 and serving as a director for eight years, before retiring by rotation in 2021.
He was awarded NZC Life Membership the following year.
Allott will be NZC’s sixth chief executive, following Chris Doig, Martin Snedden, Justin Vaughan, David White and Scott Weenink, who resigned in December.
Allott is no stranger to NZC management, having previously held the position of general manager of cricket from 2008 to 2010.
As an NZC director, Allott played a key support role in Sarah Beaman’s influential 2016 Cricket and Women report and remains a strong advocate for the growth and development of the women’s and girls’ game in New Zealand and internationally.
He has a deep understanding and appreciation of all facets of the game, from long-form test cricket to white-ball ODIs and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), as well as franchise cricket – and maintains strong working relationships across the cricketing world.
Allott said he was genuinely excited and honoured to be returning to NZC, this time as chief executive.
“Having worn the silver fern as a player, served as general manager of cricket, and contributed for over eight years as a board director, I have a deep connection to this organisation and our game,” he said.
“I look forward to working collaboratively with the board, players, staff, member associations and our commercial partners to build strong relationships, foster a positive and constructive culture and deliver outstanding results both on and off the field.”
Allott said his focus would be on teamwork and unity across all areas of New Zealand cricket.
“By strengthening relationships through all levels of the game here, we can ensure New Zealand cricket remains competitive, sustainable and thriving at every level.”
NZC chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon noted Allott was extremely well-credentialled.
“Geoff brings a rare and highly-relevant combination of attributes to the role: deep cricket expertise as a former New Zealand representative, invaluable experience within NZC as former general manager of cricket and board member, and strong commercial leadership as executive director of his company QualityNZ,” she said.
“We’re confident his playing background, institutional knowledge, business acumen, and international outlook make him exceptionally well-placed to lead NZC through the next phase of growth and development.
“On behalf of the board, I welcome Geoff and wish him every success. We’re confident he’ll be a strong, collaborative leader who will work closely with all stakeholders to deliver an exciting future for New Zealand cricket.”