NZME changing the face of Hawke's Bay media and business

NEW FACE. NZME central region general manager Glen Smith. PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN

The face of Hawke's Bay media is going to change and the most visible sign will be a face-lift for 's Hastings headquarters.

Just a month into a new role managing NZME's Hawkes Bay and Gisborne assets, including , NZME central region general manager Glen Smith said the public should expect to experience improved content across a variety of platforms.

"A big part of what NZME [New Zealand Media and Entertainment] are doing now is building capability back into the company. We are looking to formulate integrated media solutions for clients.

"Obviously, the background there is we were formally APN, the Radio Network and Grab One. We are taking legacy staff from each of those organisations and then developing their capabilities to become integrated media solution providers.

"That also involves developing the NZME brand in Hawke's Bay.

"We have centuries of collective knowledge from collective media here. What we need to do is develop capability and inspire the team to make great content - that has to come first, we have to make great content."

He viewed Hawke's Bay Today's online presence as a key to drive further engagement, adding that the advertising team would look to develop the right media solution for the right media, before taking it to market.

"For instance, for males 16 to 24, we would use a different crop of media assets, and then tailor the content we are serving them to suit that particular audience."

Mr Smith returned to Hawke's Bay just before the New Year. He started with the Radio Network here in 2002, before becoming a business development manager, and then NZME's head of audience for an agency in Christchurch and Australia.

While he was a "typical early 40s guy" who had "gone and done it", he was passionate about giving back to Hawke's Bay's community and economy.

"Given the opportunity to come home and raise a family here while changing the face of media here as Hawke's Bay knows it, and as our clients know it, was too good an opportunity not to be a part of.

"It's not just a product we are selling here - it's not just spots and dots.

"The basic premise behind advertising is that you are asking a client to make an investment in us, attracting our audience to drive business to their door or online. If we do a good job then obviously thsoe businesses become prosperous and the people involved with those businesses grow, so I take what we do very seriously and one not to be taken lightly."

Mr Smith said any change to media products would have to be on the basis of "audience first".

However, the public could expect the Hawke's Bay Today office in Hastings to undergo a physical change by the end of March.

"The whole exterior will be re-done (subject to council approval). Areas within the building would be tailor-made for each area. The customer experience, coming through our door and into our boardrooms is going to be upscaled because we are going to up-scale internally."

That would also involve removing offices and making the whole layout totally open plan.

"That means everyone can communicate quickly because when we are going through an evolution, we need to communicate openly. So we're moving away from that typical management style to more of a vibrant area."