KEAN: I spent from 1990 to 1995 as the sponsors’ liaison with the Otago rugby team, so I got to know a lot of that team that went on to become Highlanders. I became the quasi-assistant manager and travelled with the team. I actually moved from Dunedin to Christchurch to run the South Island for Lion in 1995, so was never really hands-on with the Highlanders as such, but I kept in close contact with the previous Otago crew, and in fact still do today.
MEIKLE: When did you first become involved with the Highlanders in a governance role?
KEAN: I joined the board of the Highlanders in 2016 as the New Zealand Rugby representative. I left the board in early 2020.
MEIKLE: Last year, you bought a 10% stake in the team. Why?
KEAN: I initially looked at the Highlanders when the franchise was up for sale back in about 2014. However, as I was on the board of NZ Rugby, in my opinion, it would have been a conflict of interest so I withdrew. It’s a bit ironic that now I have purchased NZR’s share a few years later! It’s a good chance to give a bit back to the Highlanders and the region, which I have a very strong affinity with.
MEIKLE: How is the future looking for the Highlanders? And what did it mean to get the licence in perpetuity last year?
KEAN: The licence in perpetuity has been a vitally important decision for all the Super franchises. Think of all the uncertainty there has been in the last 25 years, so to get that nailed and achieve certainty for the future has been a great fillip. The Highlanders are going through some changes, which brings challenges but also opens the door for new folk to take the opportunity. The "Baby Highlanders" acquitted themselves very well in the recent under-20 tournament, so that augurs well for the future. Having a good mix of experience and youth is exciting.
MEIKLE: How are the books looking after three difficult Covid seasons?
KEAN: Financially, the Highlanders are like all the other clubs and have taken a bit of hit during the Covid times. Clearly no crowds and a disrupted draw hasn’t helped. However, the board and management have set a good base over the past few years, so we do have a platform to continue to grow and get back to where we were and beyond.
MEIKLE: What do you hope to bring to the role of chairman? What are the big lessons you've learned from your career in business and sport?
KEAN: Having been a CEO and chairman of other large companies, plus my rugby governance experience, I hope to be able to continue the momentum we had pre-Covid. The sweet spot for governance and management is ensuring you support and not suffocate.
MEIKLE: The Crusaders are the gold standard (unfortunately), the Blues have the biggest market — how do the Highlanders compete with the big boys, on and off the field?
KEAN: To compete with the bigger populations where other Super clubs are based, we need to ensure we have a team and coaching group that players want to be part of. That brings support from the community, sponsors and supporters. We need to be innovative and be prepared to take acceptable risks. Winning also helps!
MEIKLE: Will crowds come back? Can professional rugby recapture everybody's attention when life goes back to "normal"?
KEAN: People do still attend live sport but it is not a given any more as it once was. I was in Melbourne for the Super Round, and although the crowds were only average at the rugby union — remember Melbourne is very AFL-aligned — there were crowds of people attending the AFL and NRL games that were on. Once we get back to uninterrupted seasons, which creates certainty, I am confident we can get that tribal fan support back to Forsyth Barr Stadium.
MEIKLE: What have you made of the Highlanders this season?
KEAN: The Highlanders have made their way to the playoffs. They do not make the rules, but we find ourselves in the fight this weekend, so we reset and attack. Just look at last weekend and the number of unpredictable results. Who knows what we will all be discussing come Sunday?
MEIKLE: Are you keen for the Highlanders to look far afield for a coach to replace Tony Brown, assuming he finishes after this season, or do you like the idea of promoting from within?
KEAN: Tony is going to team up with Jamie Joseph and Japan once the Highlanders season is over, whenever that may be. Discussions will be had with coaches both internally and externally with a view to 2023 and beyond. However, as you would expect, our main focus has been on this season thus far. We plan to make our decisions as soon as possible once this season is complete.
