Diana Puketapu-Lindon is the first woman to become the president of New Zealand Cricket

Christchurch: Diana Puketapu-Lindon will replace Martin Snedden as New Zealand Cricket president, the first woman to hold the role in the organisation’s history, the country’s cricket board said on Wednesday.

The change follows the decision by Sneddon, who still has a year to serve as a director on the board, to step down from deputy chairman Puketapu-Lindon to allow a smoother transition to his new position as chairman. Will be removed from the post.

Snedden, the former NZC CEO who served three terms as a director on its board, said stepping down to accommodate a new chair was “absolutely the right thing to do”.

“I have decided to step down from the role of Board Chairman as well as NZC’s representative on the ICC Board. Both of these decisions have been taken in the name of ensuring good, sound governance succession planning as well as taking advantage of an excellent opportunity to refresh the leadership,” he said.

Snedden said NZC board member Roger Toose would take over as NZC’s representative to the ICC from the end of the month.

“My final term as NZC director will end at the 2024 AGM. This will allow time for a deliberate handover and will enable me to continue to offer my support to Diana and Roger, as and if required, over the next 12 months.

Puketapu-Lindon was first appointed to the NZC board in 2017 and is now the second longest-serving director. She is Chair of the New Zealand Olympic Committee, a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors and a Fellow Chartered Accountant.

She brings a wealth of business and sports administrative experience to the position, including two stints as Chief Financial Officer of America’s Cup sailing campaigns and a stint as Director of the World Masters Games.

Other changes to the board include the election of former Olympian Alison Shanks and former Central District president Mike Devonshire as directors (bios below), with Rebecca Rolls choosing to retire by rotation, and Puketapu-Lindon and Anna Campbell. Has been re-elected by rotation.

Also at the AGM, former White Ferns Maia Lewis and Amy Satterthwaite and former Blackcaps batsman Ross Taylor were elected life members of the NZC.

Former White Ferns Kirsty Bond and Katrina Cannon, former Blackcaps Mark Greatbatch and Chris Harris and former coach Mike Hesson were appointed honorary members.