'Axeman' upsets TV3 staff

Photo / Martin Sykes

Discontent has been growing among TV3's senior executives towards the Australian "axeman" sent to run the network.

TV3 executive director Ian Audsley has been described by staff as "extremely rude", "abrasive" - and even "Australian".

It comes as another management restructure at the media company that owns TV3 has seen a new executive appointed above Audsley, who was hired on a 12-month contract to run the television arm of MediaWorks NZ.

He has worked as a media consultant in Sydney after being chief operating officer of Australia's Nine Network.

When Audsley started in January, he is said to have made his presence strongly felt. Audsley's behaviour towards staff - including shouting - upset some.

Discontent grew to the point that an executive clique had forged into a group that was preparing to set itself against Audsley.

A disaffected insider said: "The board was quickly informed that it was fast becoming a disaster."

Mediaworks NZ chairman Brent Harman said there had been no board discussion about Audsley upsetting staff.

"We knew he had a reputation for being quite hard-nosed.

"We wanted someone to ... review our television operations and he had all the credentials to do it. If that's ruffled some feathers ... that's an inevitable consequence of someone lifting up some stones and looking under them."

"I think our Australian neighbours can be a little more forthright in their use of the Queen's English than we are on this side."