New Zealand Rugby’s commercial director will leave after a year in the role

New Zealand Rugby Commercial Limited (NZRC) chief Craig Fenton is leaving his post just over a year after failing to agree on the future direction of the organisation.

Fenton’s involvement began during the 2023 Rugby World Cup and he officially joined the NZRC in January 2024, replacing his previous role as head of strategy and operations for Google’s UK and Ireland business.

NZRC chairman Ian Narev said the company and Fenton had agreed to part ways.

“Craig and the NZRC agreed that Craig’s vision for change and approach to delivering it did not fully align with the organization. Accordingly, Craig and NZRC have mutually agreed that Craig will leave the company,” Narev said in a statement.

Fenton, who will vacate the role in January 2025, said he enjoyed his time at NZRC but believes the decision to retire was the right one.

“It has been a great honor to play my part in helping the NZRC begin the journey of deepening its relationship with tens of millions of fans here and abroad. NZRC has a strong team and I am proud of the tangible progress the team has made since last year. I believe in this opportunity as much as I did when I returned home from the UK to take up this role.

“But while we have shared aspirations within the NZRC, we have different views on the changes needed to achieve those aspirations, and so the next stage of progress is best suited to a different leader,” Fenton said in a statement.

New Zealand Rugby declined to comment further.

The NZRC board will finalize its plans to appoint Fenton’s successor in the coming months following the appointment of a new independent NZR board, which is expected to be in place by the end of the year.

What is New Zealand Rugby Commercial Limited?

New Zealand Rugby Commercial (NZRC) was created as part of the Silver Lake deal, in which a US investment company bought a stake in NZR.

The NZRC controls the commercial assets of New Zealand Rugby, such as ticket revenue, broadcast rights revenue and sponsorship agreements.

He is involved in merchandising and sponsorship of the sport.

The NZRC board consists of nine directors, including former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, who is a representative of the New Zealand Rugby Players Association, media entrepreneur and NZR deputy chairman Bailey McKee, NZR chief executive Mark Robinson and Silver Lake managing directors Stephen. Evans and Simon Patterson, as well as two independents, Rob Fyfe and Gina Brogy.

Brogy, former president of 20th Century Fox’s global content distribution division, and Fyfe, best known as a former Air New Zealand chief executive, were the last two directors appointed to the NZRC board, which is chaired by Ian Narev.