Ian Fraser (broadcaster)

Ian Fraser OBE (born c.1948 in Dunedin) is a New Zealander who was the chief executive officer of Television New Zealand from 2002 until 2005. During his time in this office, TVNZ made a transition from a wholly commercial broadcaster to a public company operating under a charter.

He resigned on 30 October 2005 following a dispute with the TVNZ board over the salary negotiations of the top presenters. The board insisted he take over negotiations of salary packages over $300,000. Fraser refused.

He criticised TVNZ's board in December 2005 during a finance and expenditure select committee enquiry, and was accused of serious misconduct and stripped of his remaining duties by the board as a result. In February 2006, he threatened legal action over the misconduct claim and TVNZ withdrew the censure.

Fraser became well known in New Zealand as a television interviewer, working on current affairs shows from 1974-1984. He then moved to public relations, becoming the chairman of Consultus and fronting a series of advertisements for the Bank of New Zealand. After heading projects for New Zealand Expo in Brisbane and Seville, Fraser became chief executive of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. He moved to TVNZ in April 2002.

His wife, Suzanne Snively, is an economist and senior partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers. They have three adult children.

References

* [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=100&objectid=10353702 New Zealand Herald backgrounder]
* [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10352808 Resignation]
* [http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411368/661015 TVNZ drops censure]

Persondata
NAME=Fraser, Ian
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Broadcaster
DATE OF BIRTH=1948
PLACE OF BIRTH=Dunedin, New Zealand
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=