Media man Ian Law leaves PBL

PBL Media’s CEO, Ian Law, resigns from the top job the same year as the company pulled the plug on plans for its own printing site.

The man whom gossip columnist, Ros Reines, wrote “resided over more beheadings than Henry VIII,” announced his departure from the company last week after four years in the hot seat. In a statement, Law (pictured) said that:

"The timing of my resignation is geared to both my personal interests and the needs of the company. Firstly, after a very challenging four years PBL Media is now well placed for an orderly transition. The business is in great shape across all its operating units and we believe it will post a record result in 2010/11. We have an ideal replacement CEO from within the company. David Gyngell and I have worked very closely over the past three years and he understands all parts of the business."

In an interview with the Australian Financial Review earlier this year, Law confirmed that PBL Media would no longer be going ahead with developing its own printing site – a project that was been met with scepticism from day one. “We are now confident that our future production requirements can be met by a number of suppliers at a very competitive rate,” he said.

“We also now have higher priorities for our capital at this time, including the digitisation of Nine, and the completion of a new play-out and presentation facility for the network.”

Two years prior, Law said that printing in-house was a cost-cutting measure. "We have undertaken an exhaustive analysis of the printing options available to us and it became clear during the process there were compelling reasons to take control of the production of our publications,” he said.

Looking to the future, Law revealed that: “I have a range of interests I wish to pursue”. After taking a short break, Law intends to embark on new challenges that “will probably include non-executive director roles where I believe I can make a contribution."

PBL Media's chairman, Tim Parker thanked Law for his efforts and welcomed David Gyngell to the role. “Ian is leaving at a time when the group is on track to produce record earnings,” he said.

"We are thrilled to have the best media executive in the country to lead the business. The Nine Network, including Channel Nine and the GO! and GEM multi-channels, are in the ascendancy in an enormously competitive environment. The performance of Nine is a credit to David and his team. We believe he will make a great contribution across the group in the new role.”