Steve Tew took over as chief executive of the New Zealand Rugby Union in January 2008. His predecessor, Chris Moller, had paid the price for the All Blacks underwhelming 2007 World Cup campaign.

Tew was the CEO of Canterbury Rugby Union when the Super 12 was a launched in 1996, and was instrumental in turning their fledgling Crusaders franchise from also-rans into champions.

The first Super 12 campaign saw the Crusaders finish last, with only a single All Black in their squad. Due to Tew's forward thinking, the club expanded its search for players to beyond their geographical limits and by 2002, 14 Crusaders were in the New Zealand side to face Ireland and the Crusaders had become a dominant force in the Super 12.

Tew also presided over the recent rehiring of Graham Henry and Steve Hansen, who survived the cull following the World Cup. The NZRU has faced some criticism over letting former Crusaders coach Robbie Deans take the reins of the Australian national team, given the precedent of failing World Cup coaches stepping aside.

Tew has inherited an organisation whose structure and future have come under scrutiny from the media in recent times, not least because of the apparent exodus of All Black talent to the northern hemisphere.

Alongside the other SANZAR unions, Tew has pushed through the expansion of the Super 14 playoffs to six teams with the aim of securing a more competitive, and therefore more attractive, competition.