Dillon Boucher has been named as the incoming Chief Executive at Basketball New Zealand, to replace Iain Potter next month.
Basketball New Zealand Board Chair, Brian Yee, says Boucher’s drive, experience and knowledge ticked all the boxes required to take over the dynamic role.
“The appointment of Dillon is a fantastic result. His experience as an administrator, a professional basketball player, coach, plus his knowledge of community and high-performance basketball, means he has the essentials required to take the helm.
“He joins the organisation at a very exciting time. Internationally, it’s the beginning of the Tall Blacks FIBA World Cup and Olympic cycle, the Sky Sport Tall Ferns are targeting the 2022 World Cup in Australia, and we feel confident the high-performance programme will get a boost thanks to the HPSNZ Aspirational Fund due to begin next year.
“At the community level, our leagues are on the rise, participation rates are climbing, and the Strengthen and Adapt Plan is gaining momentum. Dillon’s leadership during the next three years will be important to see ongoing success.
“Ultimately, the Board felt Dillon understands the challenges and opportunities, and shares the desire to see the game thrive at all levels,” says Yee.
Boucher also brings strong experience as a sport administrator. He was the Commercial Manager for the New Zealand Breakers from 2014-2016, before being promoted to General Manager from 2016-2019. His experience includes Board level governance, including with the New Zealand National Basketball League and Drug Free Sport New Zealand.
Boucher is perhaps best known as a basketball player, especially as a member of the incredible 2002 Tall Blacks team that finished fourth at the FIBA World Championships in Indianapolis.
In June 2014, Boucher was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to basketball – an honour recognising his inspiring and long-time contribution to his sport.
Boucher says he is thrilled to be offered the opportunity and is eager to continue on from the success established under Potter’s watch.
“Basketball has always been a great passion of mine. Coming into Basketball New Zealand, especially at a time when it is once again poised to take another leap, is truly exciting and I can’t wait to get stuck in.”
Boucher says he hopes the wider basketball community can get behind the organisation’s vision and become more unified to help develop the game.
“One of basketball’s greatest attributes is its diversity, not only the mix of age, ethnicity and gender, but also the many organisations throughout New Zealand that support the game – we could achieve a great deal if we all worked together. The Strengthen and Adapt project, announced on Tuesday is a big part of that. The plan has essentially been designed by the wider community through a robust consultation process, so I believe they will share its vision, which is ‘a hoop in the heart of every community’.
“We also want to continue pushing the success of the exceptional growth in participation, the ongoing media and broadcast success that the sport has experienced, driving our high-performance success, and further developing commercial opportunities during what is a difficult time with the challenges of COVID-19.
“I’m also looking forward to joining and working closely with the team and the Board at Basketball New Zealand. They have done a great job alongside Iain [Potter],” says Boucher.
Basketball New Zealand engaged Global Elite Sports to undertake the search process. Boucher steps into the role on 18 October.
