Paul Anderson resigns from 10

Paul Anderson has resigned as Chief Executive Officer of Network 10 and Executive Vice President of ViacomCBS Australia and New Zealand.

His resignation is effectively immediately, but he has agreed to stay in his role in the interim to help oversee the company’s transition to new management.

ViacomCBS will not seek a replacement CEO, but is instead appointing co-leads, one of which is
Beverley McGarvey, who is currently Chief Content Officer for Network 10.

She undertakes additional duties as Executive Vice President of ViacomCBS Australia and New Zealand, giving her responsibility for all content and creative activities related to the company’s networks and digital properties in Australia and New Zealand.

ViacomCBS will also recruit a co-lead who will have oversight of all the combined company’s commercial activities and operations in both markets.

Anderson joined Network 10 in 2003. He was appointed Chief Financial Officer in 2011 and took on the additional role of Chief Operating Officer in 2014. He was appointed CEO in July 2015 and steered the company through its tumultuous administration and subsequent acquisition by CBS Studios International.

“The past 17 years at Network 10 have been the best years of my professional life. I have worked with some extraordinary people – both in front of and behind the camera – and have been given some amazing opportunities. Now it’s time for me to try something different and eventually look for new opportunities and experiences,” he said.

“Thanks to the hard work, passion and professionalism of everyone at Network 10, and now as part of ViacomCBS, the business is extremely well placed for the future. The combination of Network 10 and ViacomCBS is a real game-changer in the Australian market, creating a unique and powerful media group that owns some of the most innovative entertainment and media brands locally and globally.

“I’m very excited about the future of Network 10 and about what the future holds for me and my family.”

Last week Chief Operating Officer Annabelle Herd resigned after 16 years with the network, to pursue new challenges.

The company has also appointed Henriette Rothschild from advisory and investment firm KordaMentha as interim Chief Transformation Officer.

Kyriacou commented: “Network 10 has performed very well this year, with 11 consecutive weeks of audience share growth. We want to build on that momentum, while at the same time leveraging the powerful ViacomCBS brands and assets from both a content and revenue perspective.

“I would like to thank Paul for his leadership of Network 10; it is a credit to him and his team that the business has continued to compete and evolve despite the inevitable distractions that have come with recent changes in ownership. I’m grateful for the ongoing support he has offered me to help the business transition to a new management team and structure.”

She added: “Beverley is an experienced creative leader with a great track record of serving local audiences. She shares my excitement about the extra dimension that ViacomCBS’s ownership can bring to our business in Australia and I’m looking forward to working with her, Henriette and the rest of the senior leadership team to realise those benefits.

“The appointment of Henriette reflects the work we are undertaking to ensure the merged Network 10 and ViacomCBS Australia and New Zealand businesses are well positioned for the future.”

Both company co-leads will report to Maria Kyriacou, President of VCNI’s operations in Australia and the UK.

Updated: In an all-staff meeting today Anderson said the decision to resign was entirely his and he had been thinking about it for 6 months to pursue “something different.”

“I know people don’t like change… and you can put me in that bucket at the moment….but I urge you to embrace this change,” he said.