Rick Ellis quits TVNZ to join Telstra
TVNZ chief executive Rick Ellis is leaving the state owned broadcaster to take up a role with telco firm Telstra.
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TVNZ chief executive Rick Ellis is leaving the state owned broadcaster to take up a role with telco firm Telstra.
TVNZ chairman Sir John Anderson announced the move this morning saying Mr Ellis will be joining Telstra in Australia in January 2012. He did not say who would take up the top job at TVNZ.
Mr Ellis will be leading a new Telstra division called Telstra Digital Media, as group managing director – Digital Media, with responsibility for Telstra’s Sensis, Bigpond, Trading Post and IPTV businesses, and Telstra’s partnership with Foxtel.
The chief executive has had mixed results on the digital front at TVNZ, with the broadcaster's web-based on-demand service gaining traction, but its TiVo investment leadling to a $17.7 million write-down.
Sir John acknowledged Mr Ellis’s cumulative 10 years of service as TVNZ chief executive, during which time, he said TV One and TV2 "consolidated their leadership position in the New Zealand free-to-air television market and the company diversified into digital media areas including on-line, pay TV channels, and new digital free-to-air channels".
MR Ellis' protege Jason Paris left TVNZ to become chief executive of MediaWorks - only to abruptly go on garden leave in June.
Mr Paris joined Telecom in September as chief marketing officer.
NBR staff
Fri, 18 Nov 2011
Fri, 18 Nov 2011
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Rick Ellis quits TVNZ to join Telstra
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