Impey steps down from MediaWorks

John Selkirk/Dominion Post

RESIGNATION: Brent Impey, who has a background in media law, announced today he will step down from the position he has held since 2000.

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MediaWorks chief executive Brent Impey is stepping down at the end of the year after 10 years at the helm of the TV3 owner.

Impey, who has a background in media law, announced today he will step down from the position he has held since 2000.

MediaWorks board chairman Brent Harman said a decade in the top seat was an impressive innings in any business.

"Brent has been a passionate broadcaster for most of his career, and his love of the media business has shone through in his time with MediaWorks," said Harman.

"From his passionate belief in media freedom to recognising the importance of clients, hiring great staff, and being fiercely competitive, Brent has made an enormous contribution to the broadcasting landscape in New Zealand.  For that the Board is grateful, and thanks Brent for his hard work," he added.

He also announced the board will not be replacing Impey - instead both the company's television and radio divisions will get their own chief executives.

Current radio chief operating officer Sussan Turner will take the chief executive role for radio, while a search process is underway to fill the chief executive role for the television division.

Turner's previous role will not be replaced and Harman expects a new chief executive for the television division will be found soon.

He told Stuff.co.nz the decision not to appoint a group chief executive was to improve reporting to the board, in recognition they were the value drivers of the business.

Impey will remain on a part-time consultancy basis with MediaWorks until early 2011.

MediaWorks owns TV3 and C4 under its television division and a bevy of radio stations under its radio banner including The Edge, George FM, Mai FM and Radio Live.

MediaWorks is itself owned by private equity outfit Ironbridge Capital, which bought the network owner for $790 million in 2007.

At the time of the takeover, Impey was given a $3 million "change of control" payment by Ironbridge.