Former All Black Daryl Gibson has jumped the fence - becoming the new Chief High Performance Officer for New Zealand Cricket (NZC), effective from next month.
Gibson, who succeeds the long-serving Bryan Stronach, will bring an exceptional blend of elite sporting experience, high-performance leadership, and educational expertise to the role, which will include both men’s and women’s teams and players.
Currently the Head of High Performance Coaching at High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ), Gibson has been a key figure in shaping the strategic direction of coaching across a wide variety of sports, supporting over 450 pathway coaches from elite to pre-high-performance levels.
Christchurch-based with Canterbury roots, Gibson has led initiatives such as the Kia Manawanui coach program, mentoring 15 elite coaches for Paris 2024 and overseeing targeted coach education programs, including Core Knowledge, Te Hāpaitanga, and Coach Accelerator.
Gibson brings a strong academic foundation to the role, with a commerce degree, a teaching qualification from the University of Canterbury, and two Master’s degrees – including one in Sports Coaching from the University of Sydney.
He pairs this with a proven track record in high performance leadership across athlete and coach pathways, performance partnerships, and sport sustainability.
Gibson said he was impressed with the direction in which NZC was taking the game, and the way it was navigating a complex global environment.
“It’s a real privilege to join NZC at a time of transformation – with a new head coach, a bold five-year strategic plan, and a playing culture that exemplifies a spirit of winning with mana.
“That our WHITE FERNS and BLACKCAPS are so well-known and so highly-regarded through New Zealand and the cricketing world speaks volumes of the progress it’s made over the past decade or so.
“I step into this role with huge respect for the work of those before me – Bryan, the players, coaches and staff who’ve created such a strong foundation and legacy to build on.”
NZC Chief Executive Scott Weenink was delighted to sign Gibson to the role, noting the breadth and depth of his high performance experience.
“Daryl’s experience as an All Black, combined with his strategic leadership within high performance coaching, and his educational expertise made him an outstanding candidate,” said Weenink.
“His ability to foster talent and build sustainable systems aligns perfectly with NZC’s vision for the future.
“We’re very pleased with what he brings to the table, not least his strong understanding of talent identification and coach development.”
