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Movings/Shakings: 16 January

Musical chairs

95bFM’s general manager Hugh Sundae has announced his resignation.

Sundae was appointed to the role in 2015 and in the announcement described the last three years as a tightrope walk balancing old and new.

“We’ve brought back Bombathon fundraising drives and have been through difficult on-air and off-air restructures as we fight for survival in a difficult media environment. To come through that with even more talented and driven volunteers than before makes me extremely confident about bFM’s future.

“For our new leadership to be young talent from within says a lot about our intentions.”

Stepping into the role of general manager is current administration assistant Caitlin McIlhagga, who has been part of bFM for over six years.

“Becoming general manager of the station I was raised on is an honour and a privilege, but also a huge responsibility,” she said. “Safeguarding independent media like bFM is no easy task – but the goal will always be to ensure the kids listening to the bFM Kids’ Show now can grow up to be involved in the next 20 years of the b too.”

And as well as the manager role seeing a change, the new year will also see Sarah Thomson, producer of the Mikey Havoc Breakfast Show, take over as programme director on a three-month secondment.

Sundae’s last day is 2 March while McIlhagga and Thomson take up their new positions on 5 March.

New year, new change

MediaWorks has appointed Tim Lockhart to the new position of head of commercial – radio direct, moving from acting head of radio.

In the role, Lockhart is leading all direct revenue for radio and digital, and managing MediaWorks’ regional sales and operations teams across New Zealand.

Lockhart has been with MediaWorks for 12 years and has worked in a leadership capacity across sales management, general management, regional management and most recently as the acting head of Radio.

MediaWorks’ chief commercial officer Glen Kyne welcomed Lockhart.

“We are thrilled with the strength of MediaWorks talent and incredibly pleased that we can elevate our people internally…Tim is a trusted and respected leader within the MediaWorks business and its customers. Tim has demonstrated success in every role and is a clear leader in his knowledge of radio, advertising and supporting customers across New Zealand.”

Lockhart started his new role on 1 January.  

Exciting changes

APN Outdoor has announced Charlotte Valente is the new general manager of marketing. Valente was most recently head of marketing at Adshel.

Andrew Hines, chief operating officer, said Valente’s appointment to its leadership team is a 
positive win for the company and a great way to close the year.

“Charlotte joins us with a distinct perspective on the media and marketing landscape, and at an exciting time for the business.”

Valente said she is excited to be joining APN Outdoor at such a fundamental time of change.

“I am looking forward to leading the Marketing team, working alongside James, Andrew and the rest of the APN Outdoor leadership team, to take the business to new heights and ensuring brands deepen engagement with audiences across Australia and New Zealand through APN Outdoor’s innovative suite of solutions.”

Valente steps into the role on 19 February.

Welcomed return

Journalist, presenter, producer and author Karyn Hay returns to radio next month with a new weeknight show Lately with Karyn Hay, on Radio New Zealand National.

The show will stretch beyond hard news and current affairs to live event coverage with a strong online and social media presence.

Hay said she is excited by the potential of the new role and notes that it’s something of a return to early roots after spending two years with RNZ at the beginning of her career. 

RNZ acting programme manager, Chris Reid, said Karyn Hay is a respected international broadcaster with extensive multi-media experience and is well suited to the new role.

“Karyn’s extensive experience, her innovative approach, and familiarity with live presentation, means she can deliver quality content conversationally with great style and panache. Karyn is ideal for this role and we’re delighted that she shares our enthusiasm for the new programme.” 

New venture

Communications agency Pead PR has announced that managing director Becky Erwood will step down mid-February to embark on a new business venture. 

“The past 16 months as managing director has stirred an entrepreneurial instinct in Becky and she is keen to start her own business venture, outside of marketing services,” said chief executive Deborah Pead.

“Becky has been a tremendous support to me and the wider business and we are sorry to lose her to the world of business.”

To the next level

Stephanie Perrett is to join specialist shopper marketing agency Energi as group account director, bringing over 20 years of marketing, brand, design and customer experience to the team.

Lew Bentley, head of strategy, planning and insight, said Perrett will help the company take this journey to the next level.

“In today’s climate of rapid change and unprecedented potential for innovation we aim to keep giving our clients a competitive advantage…we’ve known her for a long time and admired her cool, calm demeanour as well as her ability to get to the essence of a situation fast and just get stuff done.”

A new journey of discovery

Rebecca Kent has been announced as general manager of Discovery Communications for Australia and New Zealand.

She will focus on growing the existing business which consists of eight channels in Australia and six channels in New Zealand. Over the last nine months, Kent has been the acting general manager of Australia and New Zealand.

“I’ve really enjoyed managing the Australian and New Zealand markets over these past months and am delighted to take on the role permanently. I’m excited by the local business, the new alignment with the United Kingdom and the opportunity to work with James on strengthening key partnerships and driving the ANZ business forward.”

James Gibbons, executive vice president, general manager UK, Australia and New Zealand and head of commercial development EMEA, said he is delighted Kent has agreed to run our Australia and New Zealand business. 

“She has a diverse background, has worked across many different initiatives and markets and has a really strong understanding of the media environment in these important territories which will be instrumental as we work on developing the existing business.

Coasting along

NZME has announced broadcaster Bernadine Oliver-Kerby is to co-host the new Coast Breakfast show with Jason Reeves from 22 January.

 Oliver-Kerby comes from her position as a newsreader for Newstalk ZB on Mike Hosking Breakfast and a replacement for her role will be announced in the coming weeks.

While it was a tough decision for Oliver-Kerby to leave the ZB family she said it was time for a new challenge.

“I’m thrilled to be joining Jason on the Coast Breakfast show. While I’ve been a journalist and newsreader for many years, co-hosting a breakfast show will be a completely different world for me and I’m ready to learn a new skill set and have some fun with hosting.”

Content director for the station, Raylene Ramsay, is excited to welcome Oliver-Kerby into the team.

“We are so pleased to have Bernadine join Jason on the Breakfast show. Bernadine’s vibrant personality is a perfect fit for our contemporary station. I can’t wait to hear them sharing their lives, and the lives of our listeners, and still playing the classic hits from the superstars.”

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