"Being able to give back to the sport that has given me so much, and to have to opportunity to build on the legacy that Nigel Brooke has left, is a real privilege.”

Aidan's previous role at Sport Whanganui as the Sports and Club Partnerships Lead also reinforced his passion for enabling and growing sport capability at the grassroots level.

“Through my experience at NSO, RST, and secondary school level, I understand the important role Community sport plays in both developing talent for our pathways and bringing our communities together”, he says.

"Our eight District Associations [Marlborough, Nelson, Horowhenua-Kāpiti, Whanganui, Manawatū, Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa] are critical to the strength of the CD network and I’m looking forward to working alongside them to continue to grow cricket across our entire region.”

It all starts here | PHOTOSPORT

A qualified teacher, Aidan previously spent five years with Hockey New Zealand as a Competitions Manager and domestic tournament administrator, and has coached boys' cricket and girls' basketball teams at rangatahi (youth/schools) level.

Basketball and hockey are among the other longtime sporting passions of a self-confessed ‘sports nut’.

Central Districts CEO, LANCE HAMILTON said he was delighted to welcome Aidan to the team.

"Aidan was the standout candidate for what is regarded by us as one of the most important roles for our organisation.

"Driving the relationship with our District Associations and our key stakeholders will be the main focus area for Aidan, along with assisting with key strategic priorities.

We're all really looking forward to officially welcoming him onboard after the upcoming long weekend."

Aidan will continue to reside in Whanganui while working out of CD's Palmerston North office on Massey University's campus several days a week.

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