AUCKLAND, Wednesday: After 19 years at NZME – including the past seven as managing editor, Shayne Currie will step into a new senior role within the business as NZME editor at large – a role that will combine frontline journalism with strategic content initiatives across NZME’s digital, audio, and print platforms.
Currie starts in his new role on Monday 20 March. Murray Kirkness, current NZME head of news and NZ Herald editor, will from then be acting NZME managing editor.
NZME ceo Michael Boggs said: “Shayne’s vast experience and leadership in journalism, combined with his huge contribution in driving digital transformation and integration across NZME’s newsrooms, growing subscriber numbers and audience, sees him enter this newly created, strategically focused role.
“In Shayne’s years at NZME, he has led a high-performing, award-winning team, which has seen the Herald reach record audience levels, and nzherald.co.nz being named Website of the Year and App of the Year for three consecutive years at the Voyager Media Awards.
“As well as record audiences, under Shayne’s leadership NZME launched its highly successful Premium digital subscription service, which now boasts more than 113,000 paid digital subscriptions.
“Murray Kirkness, current NZME head of news and NZ Herald editor, will become acting NZME managing editor.”
“Shayne has contributed immensely to our business, including growing talent within our newsroom, and I am really pleased to see him moving into this new role where he will continue to provide valuable input into NZME’s overall strategy – growing the diversity of our content and audiences well into the future.”
Currie says the past seven years have been the most rewarding of his career. “I love this business, our newsrooms, our people, and our audience,” he said.
“Helping create and lead a digital-first integrated newsroom, and being involved in the coverage of some of the biggest news events in New Zealand history has been a privilege.
“I have nothing but admiration for the journalists who have reported, edited and produced coverage of these events with compassion, verve and expertise.
“Over the summer I have been giving my future a lot of thought. The past four years have been full-on, and I’ve given it my all. It’s time for a new challenge and a refresh.”
“I leave this role on a high, but also know there are many challenges ahead. It continues to be an important time for storytelling and journalism.
“I’m looking forward to contributing to our ongoing focus of engaging existing and new audiences and subscribers with quality, trusted journalism, as well as helping the business in a broader commercial sense.”
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