One of New Zealand’s most respected and accomplished sports boardroom leaders, Martin Snedden CNZM, has been appointed as the new Board Chair of Cycling New Zealand.
Snedden is a former board chair and CEO of New Zealand Cricket and board director of the International Cricket Council. He currently chairs the boards of Heart of the City, Auckland’s city centre business association, and Business Events Industry Aotearoa, the national industry body supporting business events. Within the sport and active play sector, he has created and continues to lead a project facilitating governance learnings for the board chairs of a range of national sporting organisations and regional sports trusts.
The former New Zealand international cricketer and lawyer is perhaps best known for his role as CEO of the organising team for the highly successful 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
He replaces Phil Holden who stood down recently from the Cycling New Zealand board chair role after overseeing the initial implementation phase of the recommendations which emerged from the Cycling Integrity Steering Committee (CISC) following the 2022 Inquiry. This has resulted in the establishment of a strong platform to cultivate an athlete-focussed performance culture with high ethical, integrity and welfare standards at Cycling New Zealand.
“I am really looking forward to being part of a board providing high quality governance leadership and strategic direction to the Cycling New Zealand business,” said Snedden.
He praised the fortitude and leadership of Mr Holden and the Board in the face of significant challenges, along with the outstanding and far-reaching efforts by the CISC which has laid the pathway forward for Cycling New Zealand.
“I am already impressed with the quality of the team established under CEO Simon Peterson and look forward to working with this team and Cycling New Zealand’s four member organisations to continue the progress to create a vibrant, successful sporting organisation,” said Mr Snedden.
Mr Peterson said that the opportunity for the sport to reset is now in place, and both he and the staff are pleased to have someone of Mr Snedden’s proven prowess to steer the organisation forward.
“Martin brings a wealth of national and international Sports Governance to our Board and when this is combined with his extensive leadership experience and commercial acumen, the sport of cycling is in very good hands,” said Mr Peterson. “As we continue our focus on the future direction of Cycling New Zealand, Martin will add immense value to our partners, our members and our organisation.”