Mediaworks infighting claims another executive

Messy boardroom infighting has claimed another executive at Mediaworks as the company grapples with the fallout from the departure of chief executive Jason Paris and speculation the debt-laden company has been put on the block.

Sharon Daly, MediaWorks’ director of strategy, is understood to have been marched from the company’s Flower Street premises in Auckland last week following an allegation of serious misconduct.

Two sources with knowledge of the situation said the “misconduct” amounted to her emailing comments posted beneath NBR stories on the departure of Mr Paris. They said a large number of comments on these two stories, particularly those criticising MediaWorks' managing director Sussan Turner, appear to come from within the company's headquarters.

The sources said Ms Daly’s departure, and the misconduct charge, was being disputed and she had engaged legal representation.

“The emails she forward were absolutely only a couple of comments from NBR – it doesn’t amount to misconduct, let alone serious misconduct. She’ll have a very strong personal grievance against the company,” one said.

Ms Daly did not reply to request for comment, and a spokeswoman for MediaWorks said the company was unable to comment on employment matters.

Ms Daly had moved over from TVNZ, where she had been the general manager of research, at the same time as Mr Paris.

In a statement announcing her hiring last August the Mr Paris said: “Sharon is a top calibre media executive and she will be a great fit for the MediaWorks environment. She will be working with me and the executive team across the business.”

Mr Paris is working out his six-month notice of leave from home after his shock resignation from the broadcaster in June.

Mr Paris is unable to provide a reason for his resignation after just a year in the role due to confidentiality clause in the termination agreement.

However he told the NBR his departure was his own decision and he was not pushed.

Mediaworks decision to give no reason for the departure of Mr Paris, poached ceremoniously from TVNZ last year, created suspicion the departure was not amicable.

It also demonstrated the widely rumoured power tussle with the Mediaworks group managing director Sussan Turner, who has now assumed Mr Paris’ head of television responsibilities.

Mediaworks’ insiders have told NBR of Mr Paris’ frustration with a system where he had to report directly to Ms Turner, revealed at the eleventh hour when he signed his employment agreement.

Departure was not reported to be pleasant for Mr Paris, who found his desk and belongings at Mediaworks’ Eden Terrace office packed up and waiting for removal soon after he resigned.

He told NBR he was working remotely on several projects for the company until his notice period is over in December.

The departure of Ms Daly and Mr Paris has comes as the company struggles with declining profits and pressures on its private equity owner Ironbridge who saddled the company with $560 million of debt.