ARN scraps CEO role as Rob Atkinson departs

Josh McDonnell
By Josh McDonnell | 3 December 2018
 
Rob Atkinson

ARN CEO Rob Atkinson will leave the radio business as parent company Here, There and Everywhere (HT&E) streamlines its organisational structure.

HT&E managing director and CEO Ciaran Davis now takes the helm of the two businesses with the ARN CEO role abolished.

Atkinson stepped up to the CEO role less than two years ago after transitioning across from the formerly HT&E owned out-of-home business, Adshel. 

He replaced Tony Kendall who moved across to chief revenue officer for APN News & Media, now known as Here, There and Everywhere, the parent company of ARN.

“I’m excited to be working even more closely with the ARN Executive team to achieve their vision to create the future of audio entertainment. HT&E is a fantastic business underpinned by ARN and a balance sheet the envy of the traditional media sector," Davis said.  

"This structure will allow us to look at growth opportunities across the sector where we can further leverage our natural strengths and focus with content creation, audience delivery and our relationships with advertisers.”

The restructure to the business follows the successful sale of Adshel to Ooh!Media in July this year for $570 million, as well as the demerger with NZME.

“We’re focused on streamlining the organisational structure between the Corporate and ARN divisions with one managing director/CEO across HT&E and ARN, allowing us to optimise the cost structure, reduce corporate costs and ultimately set the business up for ongoing operational effectiveness and further growth," newly appoints HT&E chairman Hamish McLennan said.

"Ciaran is perfectly placed to lead the business into the next phase of its growth.”

Atkinson is due to exit the business in early 2019, with the remaining ARN executive team now reporting to Davis directly.

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