June 3, 2025 • 7 mins
Canadian billionaire Jim Grenon and former Finance Minister, Steven Joyce, have won positions on integrated media company NZME's board.
Board positions were voted on today in a shareholder meeting - where current chair Barbara Chapman stepped down.
Joyce is set to chair, and he says he's got an eye on the company's future.
"It's about not necessarily slavishly following social media - it's striking your own path."
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now, the battle over Enzidny's governance is over for now.
At a meeting today, Stephen Joyce was voted in as
the new chair and public critic Jim Grennan was also
appointed a new director. Stephen is with us now, how Stephen?
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Hello, How are you, Heather?
Speaker 1 (00:13):
I'm very well, Thank you. Congrats. You've got a big
task ahead of you, having you.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Well. I mean, you know, I've done a few big
tasks over the years, but it's certainly a bit involved. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
I wasn't saying you're not up to it. I mean,
if anybody is, you know, the business. But is it
sobering to look at the state of the economy and
how it's affecting the media at the minute?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Well, I think it's the same for every business actually,
but I think the media overall is coming out of
it relatively well. I know that it's a tough year
last year, but I think a lot of the sort
of structural issues are in the process of being addressed.
People now know what the future looks like to some degree,
(00:53):
and they it's really all about taking advantage of the
opportunities that are out there.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
What does the future look like?
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Well, I think it's a common it's primarily digital. It's
a combination of as we saw today with the type
of stuff and trade me it's a combination of media
and what they call verticals or classified and it's about
(01:20):
not necessarily slavishly following social media, striking your own path.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
So do you think, just judging by what you said,
then sounds would you agree that it sounds like One
Roof stays with enz mey.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Well, I don't think anybody was suggesting that One Roof
would be completely separated from ZEM. I'm sure there'll be
one of the options to be looked at. The suggestion
from some share holders that I spoke to was that
it'd effectively be listed separately and retains some common ownership
to effectively reveal the true value of One Roof. Now,
(01:56):
where that's the thing to do right now, where that's
the thing to do in the future, or whether we
had it all those are all discussions out of us.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Do you know Jim Grennan.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Yes, well I do now. Yes. I met him for
the first time. Actually I met him a couple of
years ago when he was looking at stuff, and then
I met him again prior to Christmas when his group
approached me to potentially be one of their director platform,
and I turned them down at that point. And then
I've met him aumber of times more recently, and.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
What do you make of him?
Speaker 2 (02:27):
I think he actually really interesting guy. He's very passionate
about the media. He's a significant investor, obviously quite a
wealthy person, and I actually think he could be a
very positive influence on the board.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Do you think that all of the stuff that's paid
played out publicly has been bad for the company.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Well, I think it's certainly been challenging for the company
in terms of having all that happening, But I think, well,
I'm hopeful that the new board has got fresh pairs
of eyes and it's a pretty good skill set and
it can take the company forward from here. So in
that sense, it's good. And you know, I think every
(03:13):
now and then it's good to have it's good to
have a change and a shakeup, and that's of course
what's happened out of this. But I think it's also
important for the shareholders and the board to come together
and provide a steady platform for the company to grow from.
And so when I agreed to put my name for it,
I thought there's an opportunity here to actually steady the
(03:33):
ship down, get it on a sensible platform, and get
it firing forward.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
How much are you prepared to get involved with decisions,
you know, in terms of whether you think a strategy
is a good strategy or not.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Well, the board has a role in testing the strategy
and providing challenge to management, and that's an important part
of the gig, and that's their job actually beyond also
hiring the CEE if that's required. So yeah, we will
be involved in that basis. But do I want to
run the actual company. No, I don't, and I don't
(04:06):
believe Jim Grand does either. But it is about assisting
the management and sending a good team and providing good,
positive challenge to what they're proposing.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
You weren't suggesting just before that it might be required,
were you? What, were hiring a new ceh?
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Well, no, I'm just just like, no, I'm just saying
that that's the job of board.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Just hypothes It was a hypothetic.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Pathetical. So if Michael ever retired, which I'm sure I'll
do one day in the distant future, then obviously our
job would be to hire a place.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Yeah, I mean the video strategy thoughts.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Not nothing much at this point EXCEPTI so that I
have had a look at it myself, and as a consumer,
I was quite impressed with it.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Okay, the editorial board, how does it work?
Speaker 2 (04:57):
I don't know the answer that question yet. One of
the early questions for Michael and the team will be
how are they thinking about doing it, and what do
they learned from various options overseas and how do they
think it would add value? And then, like I said before,
we'll provide some challenge and some positive challenge to that
and endorse it if it's the right way forward.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
What did you make of trade me? But it's totally
changing the subject here, even apologies, but what do you
make of trade me buying stuff into stuff?
Speaker 2 (05:26):
At least buying into stuff?
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Look, well, firstly, I thought it was reasonably obvious moves,
and obviously they've been flagged for a while as well.
I think it makes sense. I mean, if you cast
your mind back to the newspaper days, where the front
half of the paper are basically broaden the eyeballs, and
then the back half of the paper made the money,
and that's a sort of similar tie up that you're
(05:50):
seeing in that vertical classified space alongside alongside the eyeballs provided,
and that's really what one roof's doing so well, Yeah,
is that cerrating a lot of content. It's it's appearing
on the Herald website, which has a lot of eyeballs,
and effectively it's driving people who are interested in buying
and selling houses to the website. So it's not surprising
(06:13):
to me that the trade me and stuff will try
and copy that, particularly as that's where they came from
back in the day.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Yeah, totally, very good point. Now, does this mean that
we're going to see you a lot in the office
and you're going to have to be dragged away from
your garden?
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Oh? Possibly, possibly daily. No, I will be there regularly,
and it will drag me away from my garden. But
I'm pleased to report that every spare five minutes I
get hither. I'm working on my garden at the moment,
I'm coaxing my collieflower to produce good heads of colliflar.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
How many have you got there, I've got.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
About a dozen. Three of them are looking really good,
some of them are looking a bit weedy.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
As this a question because it just seems like a
hell of a lot of effort to go to for
what like maybe two dozen meals.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
That's just the cauliflower. Then you had the broccoli, then
you had the cabbages.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
You feed yourself for a year.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Brussels sprouts, Well, no, but I'll get two or three
I'll get two or three months of green. Certainly more
than the family will want to eat, that's for sure. Good.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Well, listen when you're in the office, when they's sick
of your cauliflower or your broccoli, and you're in the
office and you think, geez, what am I going to
do with it? We'll take it.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Well. One of your colleagues has already made a request
for my apple cucumbers that I used to hand around
the gallery.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
See journo is always looking for a freeba. They can't
help themselves. But also I'll have one of them. Thanks Steven,
look after yourself. It's nice to have you with a
company that. Stephen Joyce the new chair of ends in Me,
which of course owns News Talks Z'B and The Herald.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
For more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to
News Talk Z'B from four pm weekdays, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
Now, the battle over Enzidny's governance is over for now.
At a meeting today, Stephen Joyce was voted in as
the new chair and public critic Jim Grennan was also
appointed a new director. Stephen is with us now, how Stephen?
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Hello, How are you, Heather?
Speaker 1 (00:13):
I'm very well, Thank you. Congrats. You've got a big
task ahead of you, having you.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Well. I mean, you know, I've done a few big
tasks over the years, but it's certainly a bit involved. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
I wasn't saying you're not up to it. I mean,
if anybody is, you know, the business. But is it
sobering to look at the state of the economy and
how it's affecting the media at the minute?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Well, I think it's the same for every business actually,
but I think the media overall is coming out of
it relatively well. I know that it's a tough year
last year, but I think a lot of the sort
of structural issues are in the process of being addressed.
People now know what the future looks like to some degree,
(00:53):
and they it's really all about taking advantage of the
opportunities that are out there.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
What does the future look like?
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Well, I think it's a common it's primarily digital. It's
a combination of as we saw today with the type
of stuff and trade me it's a combination of media
and what they call verticals or classified and it's about
(01:20):
not necessarily slavishly following social media, striking your own path.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
So do you think, just judging by what you said,
then sounds would you agree that it sounds like One
Roof stays with enz mey.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Well, I don't think anybody was suggesting that One Roof
would be completely separated from ZEM. I'm sure there'll be
one of the options to be looked at. The suggestion
from some share holders that I spoke to was that
it'd effectively be listed separately and retains some common ownership
to effectively reveal the true value of One Roof. Now,
(01:56):
where that's the thing to do right now, where that's
the thing to do in the future, or whether we
had it all those are all discussions out of us.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Do you know Jim Grennan.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Yes, well I do now. Yes. I met him for
the first time. Actually I met him a couple of
years ago when he was looking at stuff, and then
I met him again prior to Christmas when his group
approached me to potentially be one of their director platform,
and I turned them down at that point. And then
I've met him aumber of times more recently, and.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
What do you make of him?
Speaker 2 (02:27):
I think he actually really interesting guy. He's very passionate
about the media. He's a significant investor, obviously quite a
wealthy person, and I actually think he could be a
very positive influence on the board.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Do you think that all of the stuff that's paid
played out publicly has been bad for the company.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Well, I think it's certainly been challenging for the company
in terms of having all that happening, But I think, well,
I'm hopeful that the new board has got fresh pairs
of eyes and it's a pretty good skill set and
it can take the company forward from here. So in
that sense, it's good. And you know, I think every
(03:13):
now and then it's good to have it's good to
have a change and a shakeup, and that's of course
what's happened out of this. But I think it's also
important for the shareholders and the board to come together
and provide a steady platform for the company to grow from.
And so when I agreed to put my name for it,
I thought there's an opportunity here to actually steady the
(03:33):
ship down, get it on a sensible platform, and get
it firing forward.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
How much are you prepared to get involved with decisions,
you know, in terms of whether you think a strategy
is a good strategy or not.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Well, the board has a role in testing the strategy
and providing challenge to management, and that's an important part
of the gig, and that's their job actually beyond also
hiring the CEE if that's required. So yeah, we will
be involved in that basis. But do I want to
run the actual company. No, I don't, and I don't
(04:06):
believe Jim Grand does either. But it is about assisting
the management and sending a good team and providing good,
positive challenge to what they're proposing.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
You weren't suggesting just before that it might be required,
were you? What, were hiring a new ceh?
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Well, no, I'm just just like, no, I'm just saying
that that's the job of board.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Just hypothes It was a hypothetic.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Pathetical. So if Michael ever retired, which I'm sure I'll
do one day in the distant future, then obviously our
job would be to hire a place.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Yeah, I mean the video strategy thoughts.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Not nothing much at this point EXCEPTI so that I
have had a look at it myself, and as a consumer,
I was quite impressed with it.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Okay, the editorial board, how does it work?
Speaker 2 (04:57):
I don't know the answer that question yet. One of
the early questions for Michael and the team will be
how are they thinking about doing it, and what do
they learned from various options overseas and how do they
think it would add value? And then, like I said before,
we'll provide some challenge and some positive challenge to that
and endorse it if it's the right way forward.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
What did you make of trade me? But it's totally
changing the subject here, even apologies, but what do you
make of trade me buying stuff into stuff?
Speaker 2 (05:26):
At least buying into stuff?
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Look, well, firstly, I thought it was reasonably obvious moves,
and obviously they've been flagged for a while as well.
I think it makes sense. I mean, if you cast
your mind back to the newspaper days, where the front
half of the paper are basically broaden the eyeballs, and
then the back half of the paper made the money,
and that's a sort of similar tie up that you're
(05:50):
seeing in that vertical classified space alongside alongside the eyeballs provided,
and that's really what one roof's doing so well, Yeah,
is that cerrating a lot of content. It's it's appearing
on the Herald website, which has a lot of eyeballs,
and effectively it's driving people who are interested in buying
and selling houses to the website. So it's not surprising
(06:13):
to me that the trade me and stuff will try
and copy that, particularly as that's where they came from
back in the day.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Yeah, totally, very good point. Now, does this mean that
we're going to see you a lot in the office
and you're going to have to be dragged away from
your garden?
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Oh? Possibly, possibly daily. No, I will be there regularly,
and it will drag me away from my garden. But
I'm pleased to report that every spare five minutes I
get hither. I'm working on my garden at the moment,
I'm coaxing my collieflower to produce good heads of colliflar.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
How many have you got there, I've got.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
About a dozen. Three of them are looking really good,
some of them are looking a bit weedy.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
As this a question because it just seems like a
hell of a lot of effort to go to for
what like maybe two dozen meals.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
That's just the cauliflower. Then you had the broccoli, then
you had the cabbages.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
You feed yourself for a year.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Brussels sprouts, Well, no, but I'll get two or three
I'll get two or three months of green. Certainly more
than the family will want to eat, that's for sure. Good.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Well, listen when you're in the office, when they's sick
of your cauliflower or your broccoli, and you're in the
office and you think, geez, what am I going to
do with it? We'll take it.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Well. One of your colleagues has already made a request
for my apple cucumbers that I used to hand around
the gallery.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
See journo is always looking for a freeba. They can't
help themselves. But also I'll have one of them. Thanks Steven,
look after yourself. It's nice to have you with a
company that. Stephen Joyce the new chair of ends in Me,
which of course owns News Talks Z'B and The Herald.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
For more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to
News Talk Z'B from four pm weekdays, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
Popular Podcasts
True Crime Tonight
If you eat, sleep, and breathe true crime, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT is serving up your nightly fix. Five nights a week, KT STUDIOS & iHEART RADIO invite listeners to pull up a seat for an unfiltered look at the biggest cases making headlines, celebrity scandals, and the trials everyone is watching. With a mix of expert analysis, hot takes, and listener call-ins, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT goes beyond the headlines to uncover the twists, turns, and unanswered questions that keep us all obsessed—because, at TRUE CRIME TONIGHT, there’s a seat for everyone. Whether breaking down crime scene forensics, scrutinizing serial killers, or debating the most binge-worthy true crime docs, True Crime Tonight is the fresh, fast-paced, and slightly addictive home for true crime lovers.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.