Hal Crawford set to depart Ninemsn to take on chief news officer role with MediaWorks NZ

Ninemsn editor-in-chief and publisher Hal Crawford is set to depart the business to relocate to New Zealand to join MediaWorks as chief news officer, Mumbrella can reveal.

Crawford will remain with the business until the end of May, with Ninemsn managing editor Emma Chamberlain to assume Crawford’s responsibilities in running the editorial team, while product development and commercial partnership duties will be taken up by others in the digital arm of the Nine Entertainment Company.

Alex Parsons, chief digital and marketing officer at Nine Entertainment Co., said in a statement: “After almost 10 years and five different roles at Ninemsn, Hal Crawford, our editor-in-chief and publisher has resigned to take up a new position as chief news officer at MediaWorks in New Zealand.

“This is a great opportunity for Hal and, as both a friend and a colleague, I wish him all the very best in this new role. We do have an incredibly talented team here, the best in the business, and the team and business are in great hands under managing editor, Emma Chamberlain.”