NZME appoints Jo Hempstead as CFO

NZME taps Jo Hempstead as new CFO amid digital growth push!

NZME Limited (NZX/ASX: NZM) has appointed Jo Hempstead as its new Chief Financial Officer, as the media company continues to focus on expanding its digital platforms and commercial initiatives.

Hempstead brings more than 20 years of finance leadership across the retail, technology, and media sectors, most recently as General Manager – Finance at The Warehouse Group, where she led strategic planning, commercial operations, and transformation projects for one of New Zealand’s largest listed retailers. Her earlier roles include senior finance positions at Microsoft New Zealand and The Economist.

Michael Boggs, CEO of NZME and a former CFO himself, welcomed Hempstead to the leadership team. “Jo’s extensive financial expertise, coupled with her experience in driving large-scale transformation, makes her an ideal fit for NZME,” Boggs said. “Her strategic perspective and commercial mindset will be critical as we continue to evolve our digital offerings and deliver value to shareholders.”

Hempstead will take over from David Mackrell, who has served as NZME’s CFO since March 2019, leading Finance, Legal, and Strategy functions. In September 2024, Mackrell was named NZ CFO of the Year and was a finalist at the Deloitte Top 200 CFO awards, marking a period of strong financial leadership for the company.

Hempstead said she was drawn to NZME’s focus on trusted journalism, innovation, and commercial excellence. “I’m excited to join NZME at such a pivotal moment,” she said. “I look forward to partnering with the team to support the company’s strategic ambitions and drive sustainable growth.”

She will officially commence her role on 27 January 2026.