Experienced Sports CEO Steps Into Tennis NZ Role

Tennis New Zealand has appointed experienced sports administrator Steve Johns as its new CEO.
Johns has had a number of roles within the sporting community and is also a former national sportsman.
He comes from Surf Life Saving where he has been the CEO of Northern Region for the past six years. Previously he was the General Manager, Operations at the Millennium Institute of Sport & Health, and had also been a facility manager at a leisure centre in Auckland.

Johns has extensive experience in regional development boards as well, where he ably demonstrated his skills in and knowledge of strategic planning.

In his position in charge of Surf Life Saving in the Northern Region he oversaw and implemented a substantial increase in operating revenue, as well as a more solid form of governance, and strengthened the relationship with the sports national body.

“I’m excited to take on the role at Tennis New Zealand, and look forward to driving the sport into the future. It will be challenging, but there are some very talented and dedicated people in the tennis environment who I am looking forward to working with,” says Johns.

As a sportsman Johns held national swimming and surf life saving titles as well as being a former New Zealand waterpolo player.

Tennis New Zealand board chairman, David Patterson is pleased to confirm Johns in the position of CEO, citing the Taranaki-born administrator as a man who has carved out a career in sport.

“He is a career sports executive and has good knowledge of the fundamentals of all aspects of sport including game development and high performance which can be transferred to tennis with assistance of the TNZ and regional coaches who are expert in the area,” Patterson says.

“Johns has the ability to build relationships with the six regions and across all aspects of the sport. This is an exciting time for tennis in New Zealand and I am confident that he will do a great job in taking the game forward.

“Tennis NZ would like to thank Steve Walker for his valuable contribution to the game in New Zealand. It has been a pleasure working with him and he has done a fantastic job of implementing the SPARC-funded revitalisation programme for tennis and in taking the first stage of bringing Tennis NZ and the regions on their shared mission under the new tennis structure put in place three years ago.”

It is envisaged that Johns will start the role in late June.