Withers resigns as Fairfax NZ CEO

Joan Withers, who has just resigned as Fairfax NZ chief executive, at last month's Jobs Summit. Photo/Kenny Rodger

Joan Withers has resigned as chief executive of Fairfax Media, New Zealand.

Withers became chief executive in July 2005 after earlier being on the John Fairfax Holdings Ltd board in Australia. She is leaving the job on June 30.

Initially on a three-year fixed term contract, her contract was later extended to carry on into this year.

Withers' departure as chief executive is another nail in the coffin for the era when David Kirk headed the Australian media group.

The company - which owns half New Zealand's newspapers and several magazines such as Cuisine and House & Garden - is the midst of big changes under Kirk's replacement Brian McCarthy.

Withers said today she was leaving after four years running the New Zealand operation it was time invest more time in family - "My husband my horse and my dog. It's a been a brilliant time," she said. Her departure has been widely tipped for a long time and Withers said she had set the date a long time ago.

Withers had been a director on the board of Fairfax and she was appointed before Kirk's arrival. "Four years (as chief executive) was my horizon - June 30 had always been the date.

She said that the illness faced by Infratil chief executive Lloyd Morrison - he is being treated for leukemia - had been "a potent reminder that you could not take anything for granted in life." Withers replacement has not been named.

Back in 2007 David Kirk hired former PMP- chief executive Roger Shepherd to be what was long been viewed as heir apparent.

Whoever is chosen will head the New Zealand operations will face a very different group than Withers took over in 1995 - with management focussed more on cost cutting than acquisition.

In a memo circulated today, the company said that the "continuing economic outlook coupled with an ongoing evaluation of our business" had lead to the disestablishment of the job of editor for its Sunday News newspaper.

Chris Baldock will soon finish as editor of that paper, which will be controlled by Fairfax Sundays managing editor Mitchell Murphy.

In an announcement to the stock exchange made earlier today, Fairfax said Joan Withers had "signalled some time ago that her intention was to retire from full time executive life at this time to resume some of the activities and interests she was pursuing prior to her appointment as CEO."

"It has been an absolute privilege to lead such a great company with a wonderful team of talented staff for the last four years," she said in the same announcement.

"I have a deep affection for Fairfax and the important role Fairfax media plays in the operation of a free and democratic society. I am proud of the quality and integrity of our journalism and of our print and on-line mastheads and assets throughout New Zealand.

Chief executive of Fairfax Media Brian McCarthy said Withers had been an "outstanding CEO". Under her leadership, the company had grown and diversified to become NZ's leading media company, he said.

" With its excellent newspaper, magazine and digital assets the New Zealand business is well placed for continued success into the future."

Withers has been on the board of directors of Auckland International Airport since 1997. She was also one of the senior business leaders taking part at last month's Jobs Summit.


-HERALD ONLINE