APN News & Media has named the head of its radio division, Ciaran Davis, as its new group chief executive.
Current chief executive Michael Miller has resigned and accepted the position of executive chairman of News Corp's Australasian business.
Davis, current chief executive of Australian Radio Network, will take over as new chief executive of APN - which owns NZ Herald publisher NZME - from September 1.
Miller had committed to staying with APN during a transition period to ensure the smoothest possible handover to Davis, said APN chairman Peter Cosgrove.
"I would like to thank Michael for his significant contribution as CEO of the company. He has done an excellent job setting the growth platform for APN and building a strong leadership team," Cosgrove said.
"Michael will work side by side with Ciaran to ensure the smoothest possible transition for the business and, on behalf of the board, we wish Michael all the best in his future endeavours."
The APN board has had a succession plan in place and Davis' outstanding leadership and successes, including making ARN Australia's number one metropolitan radio network, made him the identified successor to replace Miller.
Radio is now the largest APN operating asset across Australia and New Zealand.
This internal appointment would minimise disruption across the group, Cosgrove said. Davis is a natural leader with strong commercial nous, good communication skills and the proven ability to execute well on business strategies - all key attributes of a chief executive, he said.
Davis is a key member of APN's executive leadership team and has been involved in board planning for the past five years.
Radio now accounts for 60 per cent of APN's operating revenue across Australia and New Zealand. Davis has a reputation for driving a lot of success in the Sydney radio market.
The APN board has been impressed with Davis' abilities and achievements since he joined APN in January 2010. Over the past six years he has successfully restructured ARN and positioned it for the next phase of industry growth.
Under his leadership, ARN has recruited leading on- and off-air industry talent, focused on ratings growth, increased revenue and introduced new digital technologies to the Australian market.
Davis will continue in his role at ARN for an interim period; a search for his replacement will begin shortly.
