Leadership Update - Hockey New Zealand CEO Transition

In October 2024, Hockey NZ announced interim leadership changes as Anthony Crummy stepped back temporarily from his CEO role to focus on recovering from a concussion injury.  

During this time, Ken Maplesden has served as Acting CEO while Anthony continued contributing on a reduced-hours basis. 

After ongoing discussions and careful reflection, Anthony and the Hockey NZ Board have agreed that he will step away from his role as CEO to prioritise his health. His last day will be 31 May, and through his notice period, he will provide part-time support on our continued transition to a new high-performance system. 

We deeply appreciate Anthony’s leadership, commitment, and passion. Under his guidance, Hockey NZ has made significant progress, including setting a new strategy, introducing a new high-performance model, launching the Premier Hockey League, and accelerating junior development. We wish him all the best in his continued recovery. 

With a period of change ahead, stable leadership is critical. The Board has asked Ken Maplesden to remain as Acting CEO while we begin the search for a permanent appointment, which we expect to take three to four months. We are thankful to have a leader of Ken’s capability during this period.  

We appreciate the patience, understanding, and kindness the hockey whanau has shown during this time. The support from the hockey community has made a real difference for Anthony and his family, and for our organisation. Our focus remains on serving the hockey community and supporting each other.