Craig
Hudson

A respected business leader, wellbeing advocate, and champion for New Zealand’s scaling economy, Craig Hudson is the Chief Growth Officer at AgriSea NZ, driving the company’s global expansion through purpose‑led, sustainable growth strategies.

Growing up in Tauranga on a kiwifruit orchard with his mum and two sisters, Craig learned early the realities of hard work and resilience. Although school was challenging, he held tight to the dream of becoming an All Black—an ambition that powered him toward a successful professional rugby career. He played for the Crusaders during one of their most dominant eras before competing internationally in France, England, and Wales. Yet behind the high-performance environment, Craig battled imposter syndrome and the mental strain of elite sport. His career was cut short when illness led to a terminated contract, and returning home to New Zealand, he found himself struggling with his mental health.

A role with a supportive, family‑owned business provided the space he needed to rebuild, sparking a new chapter that would see Craig become one of Aotearoa’s most recognised leaders in business culture, growth, and wellbeing.

Craig’s business career accelerated when he and his family relocated to the United Kingdom and he joined Xero during its global expansion. He played a pivotal part in establishing the company’s presence across Europe, the Middle East, and South Africa. In 2017, he returned to New Zealand as Managing Director for Xero New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, where he led major strategic partnerships with government, banks, and the small‑business ecosystem. Craig became a prominent voice in national conversations about mental health and workplace wellbeing, championing initiatives such as wellbeing leave, flexible work practices, and new support structures for small business owners and their teams.

Most recently, Craig served as General Manager, Export Customers at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, where he helped high‑growth Kiwi companies scale internationally. His work continued to centre on authentic leadership, culture building, and lifting the wellbeing of organisational teams while driving performance.

Now, as Chief Growth Officer at AgriSea NZ, Craig brings his deep experience in scaling businesses, sustainability, and global strategy to one of Aotearoa’s most innovative bio‑nutrient companies. His role is focused on unlocking international growth and ensuring AgriSea’s impact reaches far beyond New Zealand’s borders.

Craig’s contributions to business and mental health advocacy have seen him widely recognised, including winning the Walk the Talk Award at Diversity Works, being named a semi‑finalist for New Zealander of the Year, and being voted The Most Inspiring Individual in Tech at the Hi‑Tech Awards. His openness about his own struggles has helped destigmatise mental health challenges among leaders and founders, inspiring a more honest and human approach to leadership.

Away from the boardroom, Craig is a devoted husband and father of four, bringing the same commitment, integrity, and care to his family life as he does to his professional mission.