NZ On Air Appoints TV Manager

27 May 2005
Media Release

NZ On Air Appoints TV Manager

NZ On Air has announced the appointment of a new television manager, Simon Phillips, who will take up the position in July.

“We’re delighted to have secured Simon’s services,” said NZ On Air Chief Executive Jo Tyndall. “He has extensive and varied experience in television, particularly in the public broadcasting arena in recent years, and also a strong grounding in the commercial industry.”

Mr Phillips has been involved in the television industry since the early 1970s, and his career has taken him from a variety of posts in his native Australia to positions as diverse as General Manager of RCTI (Indonesia’s largest commercial free-to-air network), and most recently, Director of Television Programming and Production for US public broadcaster PBS, in Alaska.

“The search for a television manager to replace Neil Cairns has been long and exhaustive, and we were determined to find the best person for the job,” Ms Tyndall said. “The competition was fierce, both from within New Zealand, and internationally.

“We were looking for a particular mix of skills, experience and expertise. We are fortunate to have found someone of Simon’s calibre, who can deliver on the mix we need.

“Clearly, uprooting and moving from Alaska is no mean feat,” said Ms Tyndall, “but we are working to a start date early in July. As soon as Simon has settled in Wellington he’ll be keen to meet the producers, broadcasters and others with whom he’ll be working.

“Simon is excited about the challenges he’ll face in his new role, and he is looking forward to getting to grips with it. And for our part, we look forward to welcoming him in person,” Jo Tyndall said.

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