Dolphins CEO Pete de Wet steps down
Dolphins CEO Pete de Wet, who has only been in the job for 16 months, is leaving South Africa at the end of July to head the Central Districts Cricket Association in Napier
Firdose Moonda
07-Jun-2016
One of de Wet's last major decisions at Dolphins was to replace coach Lance Klusener with Grant Morgan • Gallo Images
Not only will the Dolphins franchise begin the new season with a new coach and a new set of players following months of major change, but they will also do it with a new CEO. Pete de Wet, who has only been in the job for 16 months, is leaving South Africa at the end of July to head the Central Districts Cricket Association in Napier.
"The decision to leave the Sunfoil Dolphins is a purely personal one and has been an extremely difficult one that I, together with my young family, have thought long and hard about," de Wet said. "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Dolphins and believe our plans to achieve our ultimate goal is starting to gather momentum, so it is disappointing to hand over the reins so soon."
De Wet, who was appointed in April 2015, took over from Jesse Chellan, who moved to Port Elizabeth, to the Warriors, in September 2014. He oversaw a period of instability at the franchise in the 2015-16 season which followed their biggest success - winning the 2013-14 20-over tournament. The Dolphins were unable to replicate that success, opted not to renew coach Lance Klusener's contract with games still to be played in the season, and lost international players Kyle Abbott and David Miller along with several others ahead of the 2016-17 summer.
Under de Wet, they appointed Grant Morgan as coach but failed to make any big name signings this winter. De Wet believed he was ushering in a new era which would build the Dolphins into the top franchise in the country but he won't be around to see the results.
"Despite not being a part of that journey with the Dolphins any longer, I wish everyone everything of the best for the future and look forward to seeing the great results that I'm sure will be achieved shortly, both on and off the field," he said. "There have been some great highs and a few challenges during my time here in Durban but on a whole I am confident that the pathway the franchise is on is one that will ultimately see the Dolphins become a force to be reckoned with."
De Wet will work with the Dolphins board as they begin their search for his successor.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent