Alistair Wilkinson moves to Sky News

SKY NEWS NEW ZEALAND today announced a new leadership team with two senior executive appointments.

Highly regarded journalist and broadcaster Alistair Wilkinson joins SKY NEWS NEW ZEALAND as News Director, and Executive Producer Todd Symons has been promoted to Channel Manager.

Alistair Wilkinson joins SKY NEWS from TV3 where he was a senior journalist and presenter.

His new role will see him lead the editorial team as well contributing on air.

Wilkinson said: “The way people get their news is changing fast, and SKY NEWS is at the cutting edge of that change. I’m excited to be joining a team of professionals who are so passionately committed to delivering 24 hour news.”

Wilkinson has more than 15-years experience in the New Zealand news business as a reporter, presenter and producer. While at TV3, Wilkinson also spent time with the highly regarded news program 60 Minutes.

His work has been twice honoured at the Qantas Media Awards; in 2004 for the Best Current Affairs Science Story and 2003 for the Best Human Relations Current Affairs Story.

Todd Symons joined SKY NEWS NEW ZEALAND in May 2009. He was promoted to Executive Producer in 2010 where he led the widely acclaimed coverage of the Christchurch earthquakes and the Pike River mine disaster.

Prior to joining SKY NEWS NEW ZEALAND, Symons worked for Rhema Broadcasting Group as a news reporter and producer.

Symons said: “So far 2011 has been a formative year for SKY NEWS NZ, and I look forward to leading the team and working with Alistair to further develop SKY NEWS’ already extensive coverage of news and current affairs.”

Wilkinson will commence his new role as News Director later this year and Symons’ role is effective immediately.

- SKY News