The 43-year-old from Dunedin will take over from Brad Hodge as the Kings XI Punjab coach.
Hesson always seemed destined for a coaching role in the Indian Premier League as soon as he announced his shock resignation from the national team in June.
However, Hodge's departure will surprise some. He was signed on a three-year deal but leaves after just a season in charge. The Australian appears to have paid the price for his team's failures.
Hesson was unavailable for comment yesterday as he was flying to India.
But he laid the ground work for the lucrative coaching gig with some sterling work as head coach of the Black Caps during an impressive six-year reign.
The highlight was arguably reaching the final of the 2015 World Cup but the team enjoyed improved results in test cricket as well.
Hesson was contracted until after next year's World Cup in England but felt he could no longer give the position the attention it needed.
''The job is all consuming,'' he told the Otago Daily Times in July.
''It is not a job that you only work when you are on tour. There is a lot of work done behind the scenes.
''I guess it is like any job where you have a leadership role - you think about it all the time. It is not like you can switch on and off.''
Hesson will become the third New Zealander to coach in the IPL, joining former Black Cap captains Daniel Vettori and Stephen Fleming.
Vettori was sacked as coach of the Royal Challengers Bangalore in August following a mediocre season. But Fleming remains as the coach of the Chennai Super Kings.
The 2019 IPL will run from March 29 to May 19 and may be held in South Africa or the United Arab Emirates due to the Indian general elections.
