Former All Blacks centre Mark Robinson is Taranaki rugby's new chief executive.

Robinson, 33, who played nine tests for the All Blacks in 2000 and 2002, will take up the position in early April.

He replaces Paul Easton, who left in December to re-enter the banking industry after 12 years at the helm.

Robinson is currently working for the New Zealand Rugby Union in Wellington in the High Performance Unit, working in talent identification and development.

Stratford-born Robinson said he was thrilled to be returning to his home province.

"I've still been interested in what happens there, even while I was playing overseas," he said.

"I hadn't given the job a great deal of thought but a few people made contact and it went from there."

Taranaki Rugby Football Union chairman Peter Crawford said despite his relative youth, Robinson was the ideal choice to be at the helm.

"We're very excited that Mark has accepted the position. He's an extremely intelligent young man who has all the qualifications to accept the challenges provincial unions face," he said.

"You only need to look at what he has done on and off the field. He played for Taranaki and became an All Black, but he has also earned two degrees including one from Cambridge University."

While at Cambridge University doing post-graduate studies, Robinson earned a Masters Degree with honours in Political Studies and Philosophy.

He also turned out for Cambridge twice in the famous inter-university clash against Oxford.

Robinson played 19 games for Taranaki in 1997 and 1998. He then shifted to Christchurch where he played for Canterbury and the Crusaders before earning an All Blacks jersey.