Great Southern TV chief Cate Calver steps down, founder Phil Smith returns to leadership role

The chief of New Zealand production company Great Southern Television (GSTV) Cate Calver is stepping down from her post after nearly two years in the role.

Cate Calver

Phil Smith, the original founder and former CEO of GSTV, will step into the leadership position.

Calver joined the production company in January 2024 after more than a decade at pubcaster TVNZ in various senior executive positions which included legal counsel for content rights, six years as director of content and chief transformation officer.

Prior to joining TVNZ, she spent seven years at sports and entertainment giant IMG in London and Auckland.

The executive has yet to announce her next move but told New Zealand local media she was taking a “break and a recharge whilst I ponder what’s next for me”.

Under her tenure GSTV produced The Hui, Hospice Heroes and The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes in addition to  Friends Like Her, Spinal Destination and Noob, as part of major deals with international partners Fifth Season, Hattrick and Oble respectively.

At the time of her appointment Smith described Calver’s leadership as an exciting step forward for the company. “With the industry in a state of change, we have secured New Zealand’s smartest head to guide us through this exciting phase. Cate is a strong leader and blue-sky thinker, and we are absolutely delighted that she has chosen to join the Great Southern whānau (family).”