Jane Hastings has resigned as chief executive of media company NZME and will be replaced by NZME chief financial officer Michael Boggs, the company said on Wednesday.
Hastings said her decision to resign was difficult to make, but it was time to pursue other opportunities.
It has been suggested by industry insiders the decision could be linked to NZME's Australian parent company APN News & Media's arrangement to shelve plans for an initial public offering.
Hastings was brought in to prepare the company for sale, but those efforts have proved unsuccessful despite significant investment in new premises and staff.
Hastings was known within the company for making bold, but sometimes unpopular changes. Several high-profile New Zealand Herald staffers have lost their jobs over recent months, with Hastings overseeing the merging of the digital, print and radio teams into one operation.
Source: Stuff.co.nz