Paul Elenio Appointed GM of Fairfax Central Region

Media Release
11th July 2005

Paul Elenio Appointed GM of Fairfax Central Region

Lifetime newspaperman Paul Elenio has been appointed General Manager of the Fairfax Central Region, Fairfax NZ Chief Executive Officer Joan Withers said today.

Mr Elenio, aged 50, will have overall management responsibility for newspapers across Central New Zealand, including the Dominion Post and Manawatu Standard and associated community newspapers.

``I am delighted we have been able to choose an outstanding candidate, following a very competitive internal process. Paul will do an excellent job leading some of our key newspapers through the next stage of their progress,’’ Joan Withers said.

"Fairfax is pleased that because of the great depth and experience of our people, we are able to continue our practice of promoting from within."

Currently General Manager of the Manawatu Standard, Paul Elenio is an experienced journalist who also worked extensively in advertising and circulation departments at daily newspapers in Wellington.

He is a former assistant general manager of Wellington Newspapers Ltd and Deputy Editor of the Evening Post. As a journalist, he also worked as a news editor, deputy chief reporter, sports editor and reporter for the Evening Post.

Paul Elenio joined the Evening Post as a reporter in 1972 and his whole career has been with the publishing company now owned by Fairfax.

One of the highlights of his career was his role as a member of a small team which planned the merger of The Dominion and Evening Post in 2002.

He has also led projects for Fairfax and over the last year successfully built on improvements at the Manawatu Standard. The Palmerston North newspaper was recently named Qantas newspaper of the year for newspapers under 25,000 circulation.

``Under Paul’s leadership, Manawatu has been making strong progress. Paul is a proven performer whose skills will now be applied across the region and New Zealand as part of the senior Fairfax management team,’’ Joan Withers said.

Paul Elenio said he was delighted to accept the appointment, which he described as the highlight of his career.

"I am enjoying my time in Palmerston North, working with a great team. The Manawatu Standard has an exciting future and I will keep in close contact with the city, the province and the people, especially as the paper's building redevelopment project progresses.

"I am also looking forward to returning to Wellington and the Dominion Post and working with the talented people there too. The newspaper has made enormous strides since the merger three years ago and I anticipate that we can build on that momentum over the next few years."

Joan Withers thanked the Central Region executive team, led by David Penny, for their stewardship of the business during the recent general management change, and all employees in the region for contributing to an outstanding 2004-05 financial year.

ENDS

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