New Zealand Rugby appoints Chris Brown as chief commercial officer

Nathan Jolly

February 19, 2026 11:43

New Zealand Rugby appoints Chris Brown as chief commercial officer

Chris Brown is NZR's new chief commercial officer.

New Zealand Rugby has appointed ex-McDonald’s Australia CMO Chris Brown as its new chief commercial officer.

Brown spent four-and-a-half years as the chief customer officer and chief marketing officer of McDonald’s Australia, and was also a member of the company’s global marketing team.

Under his leadership, McDonald’s Australia launched the My Macca’s Rewards program, rebranded and relaunched McCafé, and introduced the Loose Change Menu and McSmart Meal.

During his time at McDonald’s, the business achieved its highest market share in Australia and minted partnerships with the NRL, AFL, and Netflix.

Prior to McDonald’s, Brown was SVP and group managing director at R/GA in New York, and spent 20 years at the DDB advertising agency in London and Sydney, before becoming CEO of DDB Group in Australia, and then president and CEO in New York.

Brown will join NZR at the end of February.

NZR Chair David Kirk said the role “attracted high-quality candidates from New Zealand and offshore” and that Brown’s appointment will “strengthen the capability of our executive team to deliver a successful, growing and profitable organisation.”