Jane Hastings takes over as APN NZ chief

Business Reporter·APNZ·

4 May, 2014 11:00 PM2 mins to read

Jane Hastings says the biggest risk is not doing anything at all. Photo / Sarah Ivey

APN News and Media, which publishes the New Zealand Herald, said it had appointed Jane Hastings to the newly-created role of chief executive of APN New Zealand.

Hastings, who is at present chief executive of the APN unit, The Radio Network (TRN), will be responsible for the company's New Zealand publishing, radio and digital businesses.

APN said in a statement that Martin Simons, chief executive of the company's New Zealand publishing business - NZ Media - will step down from his current position to take up a trans-Tasman consultancy role.

Simons has been with the company for more than 40 years and has been chief executive of NZ Media since 2006. The moves are effective from May 12.

"Jane's appointment will enable more strategic collaboration across APN's New Zealand businesses, including greater cross-selling opportunities for our media brands, which will better meet the needs of our clients and deliver improved performance for shareholders,"APN chief executive Michael Miller said.

APN's divisions have in the past operated independently.

Miller said APN had identified opportunities for growing revenue by combining its offerings to clients who seek a multimedia solution in New Zealand.

Miller said Hastings was already working closely with APN's New Zealand businesses through her role as chief executive of TRN.

APN said TRN was the company's stand out business of 2013, with revenues up 9 per cent and operating earnings up 22 per cent on the previous year's.

Simons has been chief executive of NZM since 2006. His previous key positions with APN included head of all publishing in New Zealand and Australia and trans-Tasman chief executive officer of the company's combined regional division.

More recently, he has been involved in the company's New Zealand digital businesses, particularly GrabOne.

Hastings joined TRN as chief executive in September 2012 from Amalgamated Holdings where she was general manager, entertainment Australia and New Zealand.