He will join the Auckland-based organisation from the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), New Zealand's public service department charged with detecting, investigating and prosecuting financial crime.

Paterson has worked for the SFO since 2010, raising to the position of general manager investigations.

But he has been on secondment since last October to the Gambling Commission, where he is executive director. 

Paterson has also previously worked for management firms PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst & Young. 

He is replacing Graeme Steel, who has resigned after nearly 30 years of overseeing New Zealand's anti-doping efforts. 

Steel originally worked for the New Zealand Olympic Committee before the DFSNZ was set up as an independent body in 1994.

"Sport enriches the lives of so many New Zealanders, and I’m passionate about working with the expert team at DFSNZ and the wider sporting community to ensure greater awareness about anti-doping and clean sport," Mr Paterson said.

"Graeme Steel has done an outstanding job leading the organisation to where it is today. 

"I’m humbled to be given the opportunity to step into his shoes and continue on from here."

Paterson added: "Doping is a serious challenge facing sport. 

"I’m looking forward to building relationships with key stakeholders to ensure the integrity of sport and the protection of our clean athletes."

Paterson was chosen ahead of several candidates from overseas, DFSNZ Warwick Gendall claimed. 

"Nick won the role due to his vast experience in both integrity and regulatory environments," Gendall said. 

"Together with his investigative skills we believe Nick’s expertise will add to our strengths and existing agency expertise across the anti-doping sector.

"DFSNZ is focusing on a range of ‘Good Clean Sport’ initiatives including regulatory, education and investigative strategies to ensure closer collaboration with stakeholders across New Zealand’s sporting community. 

"We have full confidence that Nick has what it takes to do an excellent job.

"Governing legislation demands that we must first and foremost be a very efficient regulator and our athlete and supporting group education will have high priority."