John Barnett, a central figure in NZ television production, has sold his minority shareholding in South Pacific Pictures to majority shareholder All3Media (A3M), the UK’s biggest ‘Super Indie’ television production group, and will step down from his CEO role to become Chair of the company. SPP is a co-owner of Australian children’s production company SLR productions with Suzanne Ryan.
Changes have been afoot at SPP since last September, when SPP announced the arrival of former TV3 Director of Programming Kelly Martin following her departure from MediaWorks, the NZ radio and TV broadcaster. Barnett announced Martin as “the anointed heir”, along with a plan for himself to step down from the CEO position he’s held for 20 years.
