The NRL has sacked one of its most senior executives, head of commercial Paul Kind, for breaching the governing body's code of conduct and "direct conflicts of interest".

Rugby League Central was in crisis on Wednesday after news of Kind's shock departure was broken to staff, exactly a month out from the season opener. The governing body conducted an investigation into the veteran administrator, one of the longest serving employees at head office.

Gone: The NRL's former head of commercial Paul Kind.

In an email sent to staff at 5pm, NRL chief executive Dave Smith outlined the reasons for Kind's dismissal.

"Today, Paul Kind has been dismissed from his role," Smith wrote.