NZME taps Jason Winstanley

AUCKLAND, Wednesday: NZME has today announced changes to its executive team – chief radio & commercial officer Wendy Palmer will step away from her fulltime executive position, with current head of talk Jason Winstanley taking up a new executive position as chief radio officer.

NZME ceo Michael Boggs said: “Wendy Palmer joined us in October 2019 with a two-year remit to build and execute a new audio strategy and reset a commercial team designed to exceed new and ambitious revenue targets.

“During the past two years Wendy has delivered an audience-centric broadcast and digital audio strategy with a focus on creating New Zealand’s best local audio content.

“Not only has the strategy set our audio division up for success, Wendy and her team delivered and executed the strategy in the middle of a pandemic lockdown.” 

“As always, there’s more to do, so I’m delighted that Wendy will stay on in an advisory capacity.”

“Coastlands is the largest shopping centre in Wellington – and the only one with two supermarkets.”

Wendy Palmer said: “I’m so incredibly proud of all that our teams achieve each day and I’m very excited about NZME’s future. So, to stay involved supporting our teams to help them fulfill their ambitious potential is a real bonus for me.”

Jason Winstanley will begin as chief radio officer immediately.

Boggs: “Jason is is an experienced audio executive with extensive experience across music and talk radio. He has led high-profile and successful music radio brands including seven years as assistant content director at ZM and five years as content director of The Hits.

“He also led the successful transition of ‘Classic Hits’ to the ‘The Hits’ brand in 2014.

“In his most recent role as head of talk for NZME, Jason has led Newstalk ZB to record audience growth and continued commercial success. Jason will be a welcome addition to the executive team and it’s very pleasing to make this appointment from within NZME.”

Jason Winstanley said: “The past couple of years have really cemented for me the massive role radio plays in Kiwis’ lives and what a huge future digital audio has.

“NZME has had record audiences tune in for the very latest news on Covid and we’ve seen huge audiences come to music radio and the laughs that are integral to great music radio shows.

“Across NZME’s digital iHeartRadio platform, our online and podcast audio engagement is through the roof. The future is incredibly exciting.”