Netball NZ boss appointed, acknowledges 'tough' 12 months for sport

Netball New Zealand has announced Jennah Wootten as its next chief executive officer, who has acknowledged an "incredibly tough" 12 months for the sport.

In a statement, Netball New Zealand said it will bring one of the most experienced sports and major events leaders to the helm of the country's largest women's sport.

In January this year, long-time chief executive officer Jennie Wyllie resigned following the controversial standing-down of Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua, who was later reinstated to her role.

The shock suspension of the coach in September last year rocked the netball community and team, and left Taurua in what she called an "isolating time".

At the time of Wyllie's resignation, Netball NZ said she was leaving to “take time with her family and explore other opportunities". Jane Patterson has been serving as interim chief executive officer since Wyllie's resignation.

Today, the organisation said Wootten will join from Aktive where she has served as chief executive since 2021, and will take up the role on August 12.

Netball New Zealand also noted Wootten's experience spanning "some of New Zealand's most significant sporting events", including her role as the chief executive of the World Masters Games 2017, director of Cricket 2021 for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, and her leading role in delivering the Rugby World Cup 2011 programme in Auckland.

Speaking to 1News, Wootten said the last 12 months for netball and Netball New Zealand had been "incredibly tough".

"From the outside looking in, I've felt for the organisation, I've felt for the community. I think it looks like it has been incredibly tough for everyone involved, and that's why I think the steps the board has been taking to reflect on those learnings and look to the future are incredibly important.

"Today's announcement with me is another step forward, and I'm sure that together with the netball community we are going to be able to work through those challenges, we're going to be able to look to the future, and ensure we are doing the absolute best we can for the sport and the next period."

Wootten said the relationship between the chief executive of Netball New Zealand and the Silver Ferns coach is "incredibly important".

"Again, I can only speak from the outside looking in, but I have an enormous amount of respect for Dame Noeline. I'm really excited to see how she's going about selecting her squad for Glasgow, and I'm looking forward to connecting with her and the wider team when I start in the role in August."

In a statement from Netball New Zealand, Wootten said she felt "extremely privileged" to be taking up the role.

"Netball New Zealand is an organisation with an extraordinary community behind it and the Silver Ferns are one of our most beloved sporting teams."

Wootten said her career had been built on bringing people together around "ambitious shared goals".

"I am coming into this role with enormous respect for the netball community and a real desire to keep building this sport. I look forward to connecting with the community and our partners, and working hard to deliver the future this sport deserves."

Netball New Zealand board chairman Alastair Carruthers CNZM said the appointment followed a competitive recruitment process, which reflected the calibre of interest in the role.

He said Wootten has a track record of "delivering at the highest level of New Zealand sport", including building commercial and community partnerships, and leading teams with clarity.

"We look forward to her leading the organisation into its next chapter," Carruthers said.

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