Ex-TelstraSaturn boss joins MediaWorks board
Jack Matthews arrives with a swag of media experience and a colourfully combative reputation.
Jack Matthews has been appointed to the board of MediaWorks, effective immediately.
The company announced the move via its Newshub website today.
The appointment increases the number of board members to five, with Mr Matthews joining incumbent directors Julie Christie, Martin Dalgleish, Paul Lockey and chairman Rod McGeoch
Mr Matthews is also on the boards of APN Outdoor, Crown Fibre Holdings, Network For Learning, Rewardle Holdings and Trilogy International.
According to MediaWorks’ announcement, Mr Matthews’ appointment is due to his “extensive experience in digital media and in driving change in news organisations.”
That puts him in the frame to be involved in “the tsunami of change ahead” for MediaWorks’ news division, the anticipation of which apparently contributed to group head of news Mark Jennings’ decision to resign in February.
Mark j tells @NewshubNZ staff tsunami of change ahead – needs someone new to lead
– Lisa Owen (@lisaowennz) February 24, 2016
Mr Matthews’ previous media positions include chief executive of Fairfax Australia’s metropolitan media division (2011-2013), chief executive of Fairfax Australia’s digital division (2006-2011), chief operating officer of Japan’s Jupiter TV (2003-2005), chief executive of Showtime Australia (2001-2002) and chief executive of New Zealand’s TelstraSaturn (1995-2001).
As well as all that experience, the expatriate American also arrives at MediaWorks with a colourful reputation for being combative.
“He’s not afraid to kick heads when he needs to. He is absolutely not afraid of confrontation,” Fairfax Digital general manager Pippa Leary said of her then-boss in a 2007 interview, which also included the observation from an anonymous employee that Mr Matthews “likes pushing people, testing people. He’ll sledge them to see how they react.”
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Nick Grant
Fri, 01 Apr 2016
Fri, 01 Apr 2016
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Ex-TelstraSaturn boss joins MediaWorks board
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