Head of HR at MediaWorks resigns: reports

The chief people officer of MediaWorks New Zealand is stepping down to take a career break, according to local reports, following Today FM's abrupt shutdown in late March.

Stuff and 1News, citing an internal memo, reported on Tuesday that MediaWorks chief people officer Paula Williams will be leaving her role on April 21.

"Paula is taking a career break to travel overseas to spend time with her UK family before embarking on her next career challenge later this year," the statement said as quoted by both local outlets.

Williams first joined MediaWorks in November 2021 and was regarded as one of the key people in leading the company's cultural change programme.

"Paula has focussed on embedding our company purpose, values and workplace policies to ensure we have a healthy and safe culture," the statement said as quoted by 1News.

Under her leadership, MediaWorks also made progress in reducing its gender pay gap, leadership development, as well as diversity and inclusion initiatives, according to the statement.

MediaWorks will take Williams' departure as opportunity to "review the leadership and reporting line" of the HR team, Stuff reported.

Today FM shut down

Williams' resignation came less than two weeks after the MediaWorks-owned and operated radio network, Today FM, got abruptly pulled off air on March 30.

The company previously lamented that the shutdown, which was first revealed by presenters Tova O'Brien and Duncan Garner, was "aired ahead of the planned announcement and meetings with the team."

It assured, however, that it would meet all its employment contractual obligations to staff.

William's resignation also follows the string of departures within MediaWorks over the past months.

On February 27, CEO Cam Wallace stepped down from his post to be replaced by interim CEO Wendy Palmer. His departure is followed by Dallas Gurney, Director of News & Talk at MediaWorks, who resigned on March 20 and will leave the company in May.