Regan, 49,  has taken the role from Jan Cameron who will focus on her role as Swimming New Zealand's general manager of performance and pathways.

Regan was the head coach at the Australian Institute of Sport, joining the swim team at the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympics before moving to Denmark in 2002 to coach.

He has guided swimmers under his care to a total of 65 medals in the Olympics, World Championships, Commonwealth Games and European Championships, including 29 gold.

Regan chose to give up elite coaching in 2008 after taking the Denmark swimming squad from a relatively low world standing to Olympic and World Championship medals.

But he claimed the challenge of doing the same for New Zealand was too good to pass up, and has already set goals around getting consistent results and building a large team with a lot of depth.

He has signed a three-year contract and will be expected to help deliver New Zealand's first medal in the pool since Danyon Loader claimed double in the 200 and 400 metres freestyle in Atlanta in 1996.

Cameron said: "I am extremely excited about Mark's appointment.

"He is a hands-on coach who has had tremendous success in Australia but over the last six years has taken Denmark from relatively low world standing to Olympic and World Championship medals.

"I believe with his abilities and experience that he will be able to work with our coaches to achieve the same results in New Zealand."