NZ On Air appoints TV manager

New Zealand government funding body NZ On Air has appointed former PBS director of programming and production Simon Phillips as its new television manager.

Phillips, an Australian, who has some 20 years of TV industry experience, will take up the position next month, replacing Neil Cairns.

“We’re delighted to have secured Simon’s services,” said NZ On Air Chief ceo Jo Tyndall. “He has extensive and varied experience in television, particularly in the public broadcasting arena in recent years, and also a strong grounding in the commercial industry.”

Aside from his time based in Alaska working for the US public broadcaster PBS, Phillips has held a variety of other posts including general manager of Indonesian commercial free-to-air network RCTI.