New Hockey NZ CEO appointed

Hockey New Zealand has named former banker and financier Hilary Poole as its new chief executive.

Poole, who starts her new role in August, succeeds Ramesh Patel at the operational helm of Hockey NZ.

Poole has had a commercial career at senior management level, including 10 years in senior marketing and operational roles in retail financial services for Bank of New Zealand and GE Capital in Britain.

Patel, who helped New Zealand win a hockey gold medal at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, has taken on the newly created role of hockey director.

"Hilary will provide strong leadership of hockey throughout New Zealand," Hockey NZ chairman Graham Child said.

"Her skills will enable the strengthening of the commercial aspects of the game that will provide resources for the development of the sport from grass roots to elite levels."

- NZPA