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Walker walks away from TVNZ

Dave Walker, TVNZ’s well-regarded head of advertising sales, has resigned and will effectively be replaced by new sales and marketing boss Paul Maher.

Walker, who will leave the building at the end of August, says he’s looking forward to a change, but is being uncharacteristically shy and retiring about exactly where he’s headed.

“No firm plans, but I’ll be around,” he says teasingly.

Speculation was rife about his role following the arrival of former Mojo boss Paul Maher as head of sales and marketing, replacing (in part) Jason Paris, who left for TV3 earlier this year.

We asked Walker a series penetrating and doorstopping questions:

SP: Are you joining Jason Paris at TV3?

Walker: No, I’ve had no conversations with Jason about that suggestion.

SP: Will there be more restructuring under Maher’s watch?

Walker: You’ll have to ask Paul, but I’ve seen nothing to indicate that more change is coming. We’ve been through a series of changes in the last two years, most recently earlier this year.

SP: What’s your favourite colour?

Walker: No comment.

Walker says the highlight of his eight-and-a-half years at TVNZ has been the restructuring of the sales team across TV and digital channels.

“We’re now channel agnostic. It’s quite a different business now to how it was three years ago, and I’m proud to have lead that change.”

Here’s what Rick Ellis, chief executive of TVNZ, said:

It’s with a great sense of sadness that I am announcing Dave Walker’s decision to leave TVNZ at the end of August. Dave has been at TVNZ eight-and-a-half years, the last three of which as head of advertising sales.

Dave has very skilfully led TVNZ through into the multi-media digital environment and fought tirelessly to keep the company’s revenues during the recent recession.

I’m sure you will join with me in wishing Dave well for the future.

The Sales team will now report directly to Paul Maher, who recently joined TVNZ as Head of Sales and Marketing.

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