"It has been everything I expected and more, but I also have a young family that I want to give more of my attention and energy to. As a family, we now have a great opportunity to make a lifestyle choice that will set us up as our girls get older and beyond.
"It's obviously a difficult decision from a career perspective, but I want to explore more of a portfolio of work options that will provide the right harmony between family and work.
"As an organisation, we always say we are about whanau and family comes first, so for me, this is very consistent with those values."
After taking over the job vacated by previous CEO Jim Doyle, Holden has endured difficult challenges in keeping the NZRL financially stable.
A high turnover of staff saw experienced league figures let go and replaced by people perceived as having little or no connection to the game, prompting questions about the change in culture and the direction the NZRL was heading.
Harsh realities forced the NZRL to rethink its strategic plan through to 2017, with several key objectives considered unrealistic.
In July the NZRL's annual financial report revealed they made a zero return from last year's Anzac test in Sydney, which was partly responsible for the national body recording a modest profit of $16,000 for 2014-2015.
Last October's successful Four Nations tournament helped the NZRL turn around what would otherwise have been a dire financial position, after the cash-strapped organisation were forced to take out a $250,000 bank loan against their Beasley Avenue Rugby League House headquarters.
The issue highlighted the need for the NZRL to remain strong in pushing to host more international fixtures, however the annual Anzac test between the Kangaroos and Kiwis was then scrapped as part of the NRL's new television deal.
Less than two years out from co-hosting the 2017 World Cup, Holden remained confident of repaying the bank loan and accruing at least $1 million in reserves. Under Doyle, reserves stood at $950,000 in the lead up to the 2013 World Cup.
Goals set within the 2014-17 strategic plan - of building $10 million in revenue and a $2 million surplus by 2017 were deemed unachievable, together with the aim of making the seven zones that service the grassroots needs of the game nationally financially independent by 2017.
Holden set about trying to create new and enhance existing revenue streams to alleviate the financial burden of supporting the seven zones, and to improving the NZRL's bank balance.
The NZRL's woes continued when they had to decline an invitation from Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League to play two games, at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on September 27 and at Kougari Oval, Wynnum, on October 2, because it could not finance the trip.
The fixtures were then revived and went ahead as planned after an agreement was reached between the NRL and NZRL.
