Kiwi commercial boss departs after one year in job

NEWS: New Zealand Rugby has lost one of its biggest names with commercial boss Craig Fenton abruptly announcing his imminent departure.

Touted as a renowned business leader and entrepreneur when he joined NZR last August, Fenton’s departure has sparked major questions.

Before joining NZR, Fenton worked overseas for 25 years. His previous post was in London where he served as Google’s managing director of strategy and operations for the UK and Ireland since 2017.

In a release confirming his departure next January, NZR said: “NZR has made significant progress over the past year. The NZR team, under Craig’s leadership, has developed a strategic plan that sets clear commercial ambitions and areas of focus for the remainder of the decade.

“Whilst that plan, centered around fan engagement, will take some time to realise its full potential, NZR has already achieved some important early wins.

Fenton and NZR have agreed that his vision of change and approach is not fully aligned with the organisation. Accordingly, Fenton and NZR have mutually agreed that he will leave the Company.”

On Tuesday, Fenton said: “It has been a privilege to play my part in helping NZR start down this path of deepening relationships with tens of millions of fans here and overseas.

“NZR has a strong team, and I am proud of the tangible progress the team has made over the last year. I believe in the opportunity to take this role as much as I did when I moved back home from the UK.

“But while we have strong shared aspirations within NZR, we have differing views on the change needed to achieve those aspirations, and so the next phase of progress is best suited to a different leader.”

The NZR Board will finalise its plans for appointing Fenton’s successor in coming months following the appointment of new independent NZR Board which is expected to be in place by the end of the year.