Steve Tew – Chief Executive Officer
Steve Tew joined the NZRU in 2001. He has a strong rugby and sports background and also has a Masters degree in Recreation Administration (Sports Management).
Prior to joining the NZRU, Steve was Chief Executive Officer of the Canterbury Rugby Union and the Crusaders Franchise. He became NZRU Chief Executive on 1 January 2008.
Mark Adam – General Manager Commercial
Mark Adam joined the NZRU in September 2011. An Auckland native and experienced senior level executive, Mark has worked in Europe, Asia and the Middle East in the pharmaceutical, radio-oncology and fast-moving consumer goods fields, including roles with IFD AG, a Swiss private equity company; Novartis AG (Pharma & Consumer Health Divisions); Yakult; and started his career with Wattie’s in New Zealand. Mark played representative rugby for Auckland, Manawatu, and New Zealand Universities (1985)
Buck Anderson – General Manager Community and Provincial Union Rugby
Brent Anderson joined the NZRU in 2001 and has held a variety of roles concerned with growing and supporting rugby in New Zealand’s schools and clubs. Previously, he worked in education as a secondary school teacher. With a strong rugby background, Anderson played at all levels of the game, earning All Blacks selection in 1986–87, and has since maintained a close involvement in the game through coaching, administration and television media roles.
Nick Brown – General Manager Public Affairs
Nick Brown held a range of senior roles in the public affairs area including Head of PR and Sponsorship at Telecom New Zealand where he led the company’s NZRU and All Blacks partnership activities, before joining the NZRU in November 2010.
Kirsten Patterson – General Manager Corporate Services
Kirsten Patterson was appointed as General Manager Corporate Services in July 2007, and was previously the Human Resource Manager, a position she held since joining the NZRU in September 2003. Prior to joining the NZRU, Kirsten was the National Human Resource Manager for Stagecoach, New Zealand's largest bus company. Kirsten has a law degree and has previously worked as an employment lawyer for the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Central).
Darren Shand – All Blacks Manager
Darren Shand took on the role of All Blacks Manager in 2004 after four years with the Crusaders, during which time the team made every Super 12 final and won the competition twice. He served as manager of the Canterbury Air New Zealand NPC side from 1999 and also managed New Zealand A during their tour of France, Wales and Romania in 2000. He previously served as Marketing Manager with tourism pioneers AJ Hackett Bungy.
Neil Sorensen – General Manager Professional Rugby
Neil Sorensen joined the NZRU in August 2001 as Rugby Operations Manager and, in October 2006, took on the senior role of General Manager Professional Rugby. Neil previously held various management roles in rugby administration, sports betting and the brewery industry. A former first-class halfback, Neil earned more than 100 caps for Wellington, captained the New Zealand Juniors and was an All Blacks trialist in 1984 and 1986.