New NZ Rugby chairman Stewart Mitchell is confident he's the right man to help navigate the game through its myriad of challenges and into the next era.
On Monday, Mitchell was voted as the replacement for the outgoing Brent Impey, who in January announced he'd be stepping down from the role he's held since 2014.
The qualified accountant won the nod ahead of fellow candidates Bailey Mackey and Shaun Nixon, with the former chairman of both Crusaders and Canterbury rugby's edge in experience over his younger competition likely a significant factor in the vote going his way.
"I've had a lot of experience now in change management," Mitchell tells Newshub. "It's part of my day job as well.
"I've been involved in three constitutional review group working parties in NZ rugby over the last seven or eight years. I've been looking at our board and making sure that's strengthened as much as we possibly can with diversity and skills.
"I also have wide networks as you grow and develop and I've got a lot of contacts in the business world and the rugby world. I've been a big part of Canterbury and Crusaders rugby for a long time, which are very successful entities, so I know what success looks like."
Mitchell takes the reins at a pivotal time for NZ Rugby, as it continues its negotiations with the Players Association regarding the sale of a 12.5 percent stake to US private equity firm Silver Lake.
"It's a critical deal for us," he says. "There was a lot of preparatory work that went into arriving at the board decision to support the Silver Lake option.
"We think it's important and that's been backed up by the support of our 26 provincial shareholders and the Māori board and it's exciting times.
"NZRPA clearly has their view. We're currently reviewing their proposal…. I'm confident that we will get there. We need to."
Another primary challenge is continuing to grow the women's game, which - alongside ensuring grassroots rugby is thriving - Mitchell insists is near the top of his agenda.
"I've been a great supporter of the women's game all the way through," he says. "We've got to find ways to monetise it better.
"I have a view and a vision that our clubs will become more family and social hubs in the future, particularly if we can get more money down to support our club land.
"The women's game is a critical part of our future. There's a lot of work to be done there but we've had some great results already.
"We've got to make sure that our participation rates in the male game stay up, so that's all part of our challenge.
"Feeding the bottom part of the pyramid and making sure the whole rugby ecosystem is fit and healthy."
Upon receiving the nomination in a secret ballot, Mitchell says he immediately proposed Dr Farah Palmer to the board as his deputy, which was unanimously approved.
Mitchell believes Palmer - one of the board's longest serving members - can be the spearhead for their women's movement, both on and off the field.
"Farah is a magnificent board member. We've sat around the board table for four years together.
"I value her contribution and her skills, her mana, and I'm really looking forward to working with her.
"I think we complement each other well in a large number of ways.
"Farah has been the leader in [the women's movement] in recent times. She's the first but won't be the last around the board table."
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