NZME appoints additional GM – expands in Australian market

One of the country’s leading agency sales teams is today announcing further expansion into the Australian market, with the appointment of Chris Rudd as GM Australia – Customer Solutions.

Chris has been with New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME) for 11 years and is currently GM Publishing (Commercial).  Splitting his time across Australia and New Zealand, in his new role Chris will be focused on new business opportunities and driving revenue growth within the company’s existing customer portfolio across the Tasman.  He will work closely with NZME’s current Australian based team including Angie Russell, NZME’s GM Australia – Direct & Agency.

Greg McCrea, NZME Head of Agency Sales, says Chris has a wealth of experience of 25 years spent working in both Australia and New Zealand’s media industries, including his time at ACP in Australia, and will help drive NZME’s growth across the Tasman.

“NZME is expanding our presence in Australia and Chris will play a big role in not only managing our existing client and agency relationships, but also in driving new business for us.  The work Chris does in his new role will complement the excellent work our Australian team is already doing - helping build on their excellent results and drive further revenue growth for the business,” he says.

“Having two senior, high calibre media industry experts in Chris and Angie being based in the Australian market really gives us a point of difference and allows us to engage further with our agency and client partners in Australia,” says McCrea.

Chris Rudd says: “I’m really excited to help drive new revenue in the Australian market. There is massive potential as well as great learnings we can deliver back to our team in New Zealand now the borders are open. It’s also great to be able to work across the full NZME portfolio of platforms and represent the company over in Australia,” he says.

With Rudd moving into the new role, Margaret Hawker will step into the newly created role of Head of Commercial Publishing and Innovation.  In this role, she will be responsible for the retention and growth of revenue into New Zealand’s Herald, encompassing the NZ Herald newspaper, NZME’s regional and community print brands, and nzherald.co.nz across both news and lifestyle content.

Chris and Margaret will commence their new roles from next Tuesday 7 June. 

 ENDS

For further information please contact:

Kelly Gunn

GM Communications – NZME

+64 27 213 5625

Kelly.gunn@nzme.co.nz