Surprised that NZR wasn't more involved in this recruitment
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350256218/super-rugby-pacific-names-first-chief-executive-and-its-surprise
Super Rugby Pacific chair Kevin Malloy, New Zealand Rugby director Rowena Davenport, Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh and RUPA chief executive Justin Harrison played key roles in the hunt for the chief executive.
The position attracted about 290 applicants, and recruitment agency Robert Walters whittled that down to a long list before rugby bosses settled on a final three.
Mesley emerged as the successful candidate from that process and will now take the chief executive role at a crucial time in Super Rugby’s history.
The future of the troubled Melbourne Rebels remains up in the air, while new TV deals in New Zealand and Australia for 2026 and beyond are up for negotiation between NZ Rugby, Rugby Australia and their respective broadcast partners.
The NRL is also an increasingly bullish competitor, with the Warriors performing well and the competition determined to expand.
Super Rugby Pacific will need to be smart to deal with those challenges but Malloy told Stuff on Tuesday that Mesley had the right mix of attributes to succeed, despite not having a background in rugby administration.
“I think a really important aspect of this job will be stakeholder management,” Malloy said. “He certainly came across as very strong with people skills.
"The other thing is, we wanted somebody in this role who is, ‘Roll
“You're not going to have a hell of a lot of resource necessarily.
“So, this isn't the role for a 20-year veteran CEO who is used to having lots of people running around after them.
“This is for a young gun with something to prove. That's the sort of person that we saw in Jack.”