3 April 2006
TVNZ Appoints Experienced Industry Leader As CEO
Mr Rick Ellis TVNZ's new Chief Executive
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TVNZ's Chairman Designate, Sir John Anderson, today announced the appointment of Mr Rick Ellis as Chief Executive,
commencing in mid-May.
Speaking on behalf of the Board of Directors, Sir John said Mr Ellis had been selected from a wide range of very
talented candidates. The Board had been pleased to see such a high level of interest from candidates with a depth of
skills and experience.
"Rick Ellis was the standout candidate," Sir John said.
"He is a very experienced Chief Executive, and in his four year term with TVNZ to 2002 he led the company with vision
and purpose.
Since that time he has remained actively involved in the industry – in particular through his current appointments as
Chairman of the Television Local Content Group and as a member of the Board of Governors of Radio New Zealand," Sir John
said.
"He is very familiar with the current issues facing TVNZ and the industry, which means that once he takes up his
appointment he is ideally placed to lead the organisation and TVNZ can take firm steps into the future".
Rick Ellis - Biography
For the last four years, Rick Ellis has been Managing Director of EDS New Zealand - one of the country's largest IT
employers and a subsidiary of EDS Corporation, a global IT services company based in Texas.
Rick held overall responsibility for the New Zealand arm of EDS and for managing relationships with government and
banking clients. During his tenure he achieved record financial results and drove development of EDS New Zealand as a
centre for work for offshore clients – creating more than 360 new jobs in this area alone.
He has an outstanding leadership record in the IT, transport and broadcasting industries.
Before joining EDS he was Chief Executive of TVNZ for just over four years. In this time the company grew television
revenue and market share to their highest levels since the New Zealand broadcasting market was deregulated in the early
1990s.
Rick remained active in the broadcasting industry as a member of the Board of Governors of Radio New Zealand and as
Chairman of the Television Local Content Group.
From 1995 to 1998, Rick held senior executive positions with the Ansett Airlines Group in both New Zealand and
Australia, including CEO of Ansett New Zealand.
Prior to this, Rick held several senior positions in the IT industry with Burroughs Corporation and Wang Laboratories in
New Zealand, Australia and the UK.
Rick holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Auckland University. He's a New Zealander and is married with three
children.
ENDS