Steve Kane joins Eight in business development role 

AUCKLAND, Today: AUNZ producer Eight has announced that Auckland-based Steve Kane has come on board as business development director and creative consultant across the tvc and The Story Department in both Australia and New Zealand.

Eight MD/EP Katie Millington said: “Steve hit the ground running production side as a marketing consultant working alongside Transmission Films to help promote Eight’s critically acclaimed documentary feature Dame Valerie Adams: More than Gold, which premiered at Sky City last month.

“Kane is returning to the industry after a year’s sabbatical. Prior to that he was MD of True where he departed at the end of 2021. He was MD of VMLY&R NZ and has worked in senior roles across the industry including CD at DDB Aotearoa, TBWA\NZ and as a PR consultant for Mango and Hill & Knowlton in the UK.

Kane said: “It’s lovely to be back in the world of production having started my career here in the 90s as a staff writer on Melody Rules, arguably the worst comedy to ever grace the New Zealand screen.

“Given we are strong advocates of diversity, we felt it was time to include a straight white man on the exec team.”

“Eight is home to some of Australasia’s best talent, many of whom I’ve had the pleasure of working with previously at various agencies, and the role feels like a natural place to put all of my past experience to use.”

Millington: “Steve has always been a good friend of Eight’s. I’ve been plotting a way to get him in the door for some time and frankly I’ve got far too much over him for him to have said ‘no’.

“Given we are strong advocates of diversity, we felt it was high time to include a straight white man on the executive team.

“He’ll be working across both the Australian and NZ offices, and stand by for another announcement regarding a new international office in the new year.

“Having worked on a slew of blue chips brands including Microsoft, Xerox, HP, Air NZ, McDonald’s, ANZ, Stihl NZ, Westpac, Jaguar Land Rover, ASB, Lotto and Southern Cross, Kane is a welcome asset to Eight’s diverse executive team, which includes myself as MD, executive producer and head of production Lib Kelly, and executive producer Claire Kelly.