He has dropped captain Derek de Boorder in favour of dual captains.
Former Black Cap opener Aaron Redmond will lead the one-day and first-class side and import Ryan ten Doeschate will take the reins for the domestic twenty20 competition.
Ten Doeschate is a vastly experienced and well-respected player, who should make a good Otago captain.
The same could be said for Redmond, except history proved otherwise.
The 35-year-old replaced Craig Cumming as captain for the 2011-12 season in what can only be described a dismal failure.
His form with the bat fell away so alarmingly he was eventually dropped in all three formats.
Alarming is not overstating it, either. Redmond has a first-class career average of 35.13, including 15 centuries.
That summer he managed 157 runs at 14.27. In six one-dayers he scored 35 runs at an average of 7.
He was better in the twenty20 tournament with 137 runs at 19.57.
Everybody goes through form slumps but his crash seemed neatly tied to his promotion.
His career was at the crossroads but he returned, and without the captaincy was back to his very best.
He was the leading scorer in the Plunket Shield with 941 runs at an average of 55.35 and was solid again last summer.
Mascarenhas could not be reached for comment yesterday but in a press release said the changes were ''no reflection on the talents or abilities of Derek but rather a move to use the aggressive leadership skills of Ryan and Aaron''.
''I have been charged with achieving results in all forms of the game and the changes are simply ones that I believe will give the talented squad the best chances to achieve team success.
''Derek is an excellent all-round cricketer who, I believe, will flourish without the additional burden of captaincy.
''Aaron has performed the role before and while this was with limited success, he is now more mature and settled in his cricket and has an excellent understanding of the game and a very aggressive streak that should respond well to my coaching philosophies.
''The same applies to Ryan, who has a wealth of twenty20 experience in a number of top competitions around the world. He knows the players well, has their respect and, above all, reacts instinctively well in pressure situations.''
Redmond is in the United Kingdom and will join the squad on Wednesday.
He said in a press release he was looking forward to working with Mascarenhas.
''His positive approach and inventive style a very similar to my own philosophies on the game.
"Personally, I believe my best years are still to come. I intend to contribute strongly in all areas while aiding in the development of our young squad.''
Hamish Rutherford will be vice-captain in all formats in what is a nod to the future.
Otago Cricket also confirmed Central Districts seamer Roald Badenhorst has joined the squad.
He has taken 24 wicket at average of 38.7 in 11 first-class games.
De Boorder could not be reached for comment.
