Southern Exposure

CHRISTCHURCH, Today: NZME is expanding its commercial presence in the South Island, appointing Ben Harris to lead NZME Christchurch, and promoting Matt Bowness to head NZME’s South Island agency team.

Harris is currently GM of the Paul Kelly Motor Company where he has been since 2018, following two years in real estate as an auctioneer and sales consultant.

Harris is also one of the South Island’s most experienced media managers and commercial leaders with nearly 18 years’ experience as a top performing media consultant, a GM and regional manager for MediaWorks.

“Ben is very well known and incredibly highly regarded across the Christchurch and Canterbury business communities,” said NZME chief radio & commercial officer Wendy Palmer.

“With his vast commercial and media experience, Ben’s focus on delivering results for clients makes him perfect to join our senior leadership team in the South Island,” 

“Growth in the South Island is a key strategic focus for the business.”

Ben Harris said: “It’s been impressive to watch NZME develop and deliver its Christchurch and South Island strategy.

“With powerhouse brands like Newstalk ZB, the NZ Herald and OneRoof, NZME’s always had a strong presence here. But the growth ambitions the business has to engage South Island audiences with more of its great local content and to support our business communities is on another level. I’m very excited to be a part of it.”

NZME chief revenue officer Paul Hancox said: “The creation of a new role of a dedicated general manager of agency for the South Island is the next step in NZME’s audience and customer focussed growth strategy.

“Matt’s done a superb job as our Christchurch general manager and it’s through Matt’s work that we identified a brilliant opportunity to further support our advertising agency partners with key South Island clients.

“Matt’s already identified a wealth of growth opportunities for our current agency clients and has plenty of exciting new initiatives to take to market as well.”

NZME ceo Michael Boggs said: “Growth in the South Island is a key strategic focus for the business.”