Television New Zealand and Transmission Holdings Ltd boards appointed

Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey today announced the make-up of the boards of Television New Zealand and Transmission Holdings Limited.

Following the passage of the Television New Zealand Act two separate broadcasting and transmission companies will come into effect on 1 July 2003: Television New Zealand (TVNZ), a Crown-owned public broadcasting company responsible for delivering against its charter; and Transmission Holdings Limited (THL), a state-owned enterprise responsible for running a national and international transmission business. Each company is governed by a separate board of directors.

Steve Maharey said the government has reappointed all former TVNZ board members to one or other of the new boards to provide stability as the new company structures bed in, as well as appointing several new members to ensure that the new companies have access to specialist skills at a governance level.

“The separation of TVNZ and THL enables each company to exclusively focus on their core roles. The primary objective of TVNZ will be to give effect to its charter while maintaining commercial performance. THL's purpose will be to operate as a successful business.

“Acting Television New Zealand chair Craig Boyce has been confirmed in the television chair role and will be joined by exisiting board members Dame Anne Hercus, Sarah Reeves, Paul Smith and Trish Stevenson. The government is also appointing Auckland businessman Robert Fenwick (Deputy Chair) and former Reuters senior manager Philip Melchior to the board.

“We have appointed Wayne Brown to chair Transmission Holdings Limited. The board will also comprise exisiting TVNZ board member Russell Hewitt (Deputy Chair) and telecommunications specialist Tony Baird, law partner Wendy Brandon, company director Taari Nicholas, University of Auckland ‘UniSat’ manager Brian Oliver and business consultant Janine Smith.

“In the future we intend to stagger board terms to ensure stability and continuity of both companies’ governance arrangements are maintained when new appointments are made,” Steve Maharey said.

TVNZ and THL board members: biographical information

Television New Zealand

Craig Boyce (Chair) is a Christchurch-based professional company director with has extensive commercial governance experience, including as Chair of Smiths City Group Ltd and various director roles. Mr Boyce was appointed Acting Chair of TVNZ following the resignation of Ross Armstrong in 2002 and is currently also on the board of Industry New Zealand.

Robert Fenwick (Deputy Chair) is an Auckland based businessman with a background in brand marketing, PR, sustainable development and broadcasting. He is a founding shareholder and director of Living Earth Ltd, former chairman of Mai Media Ltd, and a director of the Crown Research Institute Landcare Research Ltd. Formally a journalist, Mr Fenwick co-founded Allan Fenwick McCully, a large public relations business in the late 1980s. He also holds a number of not-for-profit governance positions. The TVNZ board will benefit from Mr Fenwick’s strong business acumen and governance experience, aligned to his understanding of the New Zealand broadcasting scene (with a particular emphasis on Maori broadcasting).

Dame Anne Hercus was appointed to the board of TVNZ in March 2002. An International Advisor and consultant, Dame Ann has considerable understanding of the management of Crown assets from her time as a Minister of the Crown and Member of Parliament, and also an international standing and perspective gained through her roles with the United Nations.

Philip Melchior is Wanaka based, and held a range of senior positions with the Reuters Group Plc, culminating in his appointment as the London based Managing Director of Reuters Media. Before his international career with Reuters, Mr Melchior had an extensive career in journalism in New Zealand (both press and television). Hw will add value to the TVNZ board with his knowledge of the operation of a multinational media company, as well as his knowledge of the New Zealand media. He has also held governance roles with a number of international media companies.

Sarah Reeves was appointed to the TVNZ board in September 2001. She is an Auckland based solicitor for Tametekapua Law. The board will continue to benefit from Ms Reeves’ legal background, and awareness of Maori stakeholder perspectives (she is of Te Atiawa and Puketapu tribal affiliation).

Paul Smith was appointed to the TVNZ board in 2000. He is an Auckland based journalist, media commentator and author. He has had an extensive career in journalism, including roles as senior reporter on the major New Zealand metropolitan newspapers and Radio New Zealand. Mr Smith was also previously head of Corporate Public Relations for TV2.

Trish Stevenson was appointed to the TVNZ Board in 2000. She is the Wellington based Manager of the International Division for Learning Media Ltd. Previously she has held governance roles on the Board of NZ on Air, and a variety of roles in the telecommunications and television industries.

Transmission Holdings Limited

Wayne Brown (Chair) is an experienced Chair and Director, and has held a wide range of governance positions in both the private and public sectors. He is currently the Chair of Auckland Healthcare and the Land Transport Safety Authority, and previous governance roles have included Broadcast Communications Ltd and Television New Zealand and NZ Railways Corporation. Mr Brown was an establishment director of the Maori Television Services, and is an engineer by training.

Russell Hewitt (Deputy Chair) was appointed to the TVNZ Board in 2000. He is the Auckland based Managing Director of the recently merged Hewlett Packard and Compaq NZ. His knowledge of the New Zealand business environment, associated with his strong understanding of the application of new technology, and marketing, will continue be of relevance to the THL board, and he will provide the institutional knowledge needed in transitioning to the new environment.

Anthony (Tony) Baird is the Canterbury based Managing Director of Invensys Energy Systems (NZ) Ltd, and also its Director of Technology. Prior to that he was the Director of Network and Technology for TelstraClearSaturn. He has had an extensive career in the international telecommunications industry.

Wendy Brandon is a Wellington based partner with law firm MinterEllison. She has a range of expertise, with particular reference to commercial litigation, public law, resource management, aviation, and health.

Taaringaroa (Taari) Nicholas, Ngati Ranginui and Nga Puhi, is a Tauranga-based company director and business consultant. After a career in Funds Management and Investment Banking, Dr Nicholas is now concentrating on governance roles, including as a director of Moana Pacific Fisheries and a Commissioner of the Earthquake Commission. Dr Nicholas has strong skills in the financial analysis area, and these will be of particular relevance to the THL board, along with his experience in governance, and issues of Maori development.

Brian Oliver is the Manager of the University of Auckland’s “UniSat” satellite receiving station located at the Tamaki Campus. He is a fully qualified telecommunications technician, and will bring to the board an understanding of the technological aspects of THL’s business.

Janine Smith is an Auckland based business consultant, and is Deputy Chair of Airways Corporation of New Zealand. She has strong commercial and financial skills. She is also a member of the Board of Advisors to the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, a Member of the NZ Business Education Roundtable, and has been a Judge and Convenor of the NZ Marketing Awards, the Australasian Television Awards, the Market Research Society of NZ Awards and the Advertising Effectiveness Awards.