Former New Zealand captain Ken Rutherford is stepping up as the new CEO of Northern Districts Cricket Association, picking up the reins from Australian sports administrator Ben MacCormack who stepped down from the role earlier this season.
Following in the footsteps of the great Martin Crowe, Rutherford played 56 Tests and 121 ODIs in a turbulent, decade-long international career, and batted for Otago throughout his New Zealand Domestic career.
In more recent years, he has been involved at times with Northern Districts in roles as a selector and Board member, whilst following son Hamish Rutherford's exploits for Otago until the latter's retirement from playing the game, last season.
Having enjoyed punting on the sport from an early age, Rutherford senior carved out a career in the horse racing and betting industries after his own retirement from cricket in the 1999/2000 season, by which time he was playing domestically in South Africa.
He later helmed Waikato Racing Club before taking up a similar role in 2019 across the Tasman, in New South Wales at the Hawkesbury Racing Club, before moving to Queensland Harness Racing in 2023.
He sat on the board of Northern Districts Cricket Association from 2015 to 2017.
Rutherford will officially begin his new role in early April 2025.
Rutherford becomes one of four new Major Association CEOs appointed since the 2023/24 season, with former NZC Operations Manager Richard "Charlie" Brewer taking over from Jez Curwin in Canterbury after almost seven years; Todd Bryant named as the new CEO of Wellington; and Ian Francis taking up the reins from the long-serving Iain Laxon in Auckland.
