New Zealand Rugby League announces Andrea Nelson as chief executive

New Zealand Rugby League chief executive Andrea Nelson.

New Zealand Rugby League has ushered in a new chapter with the appointment of Andrea Nelson as chief executive.

Nelson replaces Greg Peters, who steps down after eight years in the role.

Nelson has led major international sporting events – as New Zealand general manager for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup – and helped lead the delivery and commercial development of the Oceania Cup, the precursor to the Pacific Championships.

She has also held senior leadership roles across some of the world’s largest sporting organisations and events, including the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Fifa Under-20 World Cup and the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup and was the chairwoman of the New Zealand Events Association and the CEO of Gymnastics New Zealand.

New Zealand will head into this year’s Rugby League World Cup campaign with the Kiwis, Kiwi Ferns and Wheel Kiwis teams all strongly positioned on the world stage.

Nelson said returning to rugby league felt like a natural homecoming.

“I’m thrilled and honoured to be entrusted with the role of chief executive of NZRL [New Zealand Rugby League].

“Being part of delivering the 2017 Rugby League World Cup in Aotearoa was a career highlight. While I’ve continued to work across sport since then, rugby league has always held a special place for me, so this in many ways feels like a homecoming,” she says.

“I am a huge believer in the power of sport to change lives for the better, and that sits at the heart of rugby league’s ‘More Than a Game’ kaupapa. Rugby league’s greatest strength has always been, and always will be, its people, and I look forward to working together to shape the future of the game.”

NZRL chair Justin Leydesdorff said the appointment panel was thrilled by the calibre of candidates for the role.

“Andrea brings an incredibly rare combination of strategic leadership, operational delivery and authentic passion for rugby league,” Leydesdorff said.

“She’s worked at the highest levels of governance and commercial sport and understands what it takes to grow organisations in complex environments. But equally as important to the code, she demonstrated a deep understanding of community sport and people.

“We wanted a leader who could sit across the table from the biggest decision-makers in international rugby league, but who would also happily pick up a tea towel at a local club on the East Coast. Andrea is that person.”