Many regard former All Black coach, John Hart as the greatest modern rugby coach. His ability to bring a number of factions together was instrumental in taking All Black rugby into the professional era. He has strong vision and leadership.

John Hart spent 30 years with Fletcher Holdings and subsequently Fletcher Challenge. Starting as an accounting cadet, he quickly moved into the industrial relations area and ultimately became Group Employee Relations Director, responsible for leading the development and coordination of the Human Resource Function for Fletcher Challenge's international operations.

John played a major role in the New Zealand Rugby scene in the period 1987-1991 as an All Black Selector and Coach. He is widely acknowledged as the architect of New Zealand's pre-eminence in Rugby in the late 1980s. His motivational, man-management skills and vision have been recognised worldwide.

In April 1995 he started John Hart Consultancy Ltd and consulted to SKY television in their bid to provide a professional Rugby competition in the Southern Hemisphere.

Later that year he was appointed All Black coach and silenced many critics with two successful seasons; with 10 wins out of 11 tests and the first ever series victory in South Africa in 1996 and a record of 17 tests with no losses in 1997. A renewal of his contract saw him coach the All Blacks through to the semifinals and fourth place in the 1999 Rugby World Cup, after which he immediately announced his retirement.

John’s primary interest is in sports management and he has or has held a number of external roles on sporting bodies. These include The New Zealand Sports Foundation and New Zealand 2000 Task Force, which was formed to look at the opportunities for New Zealand in sport, tourism and trade as a result of Sydney being awarded the 2000 Olympic Games. In 2005 John joined Cullen Sports as a Director.

He has published two books, "Straight From the Hart" and "Change of Hart" which includes a first-hand account of the successful transition of world rugby to a professional sport.