Mediaworks merges newsrooms in shake-up

Mediaworks CEO Mark Weldon at the company's 2015 Content Launch held in October. Photo / Peter Meecham

Two top executives are casualties from MediaWorks' new organisational structure.

Television chief executive Paul Maher and Interactive chief executive Siobhan McKenna are leaving the company, MediaWorks Ltd said today.

Their departure comes during a shake-up of the organisation, which will see newsrooms merged and an integration of digital operations.

Group chief executive Mark Weldon said as a result of the reorganisation, and after discussion over other roles, both Mr Maher and Ms McKenna were leaving the company.

"On behalf of the board and all staff, I want to thank Paul and Siobhan for their contributions to MediaWorks," Mr Weldon said.

"Paul built a strong team across TV news, programming and sales, that have, under his leadership, been responsible for a significant turnaround in the profitability of the TV unit at MediaWorks.

"Siobhan has successfully grown a digital start-up into a mature set of revenue lines, and developed a team who make a significant contribution to every part of the business. She is to be applauded for this success and for the drive and determination of her leadership."

MediaWorks owns and operates TV3 and FOUR and radio stations including The Edge, The Rock, More, George, Mai, The Breeze, and RadioLIVE.

The company's television, radio and digital news operations would be combined into a unified news team under the leadership of Mark Jennings, who had been promoted to a new role, Group Head of News, Mr Weldon said.

Current staff members working in those operations would become part of a new integrated news team, comprising more than 200 people.

Mr Jennings said by bringing together the television, radio and digital assets, the company would "create the best news service in the country and drive home our competitive advantage".

"The cross-platform breakfast show hosted by Paul Henry is the spearhead of this new approach and I am very keen to work with Mark and the Group Executive to create the newsroom of the future."

Mr Weldon said merging the interactive division into the wider business places our digital strategy at the heart of every part of MediaWorks.