Paul Thompson the new CEO of RNZ

Not to be confused with the Australian radio legend, NZ's Paul Thompson has been appointed the new CEO of Radio New Zealand.

Thompson replaces Peter Cavanagh who announced in January that he would be leaving after a decade in the role.

RNZ Board chairman, Richard Griffin, said:

"The Board was encouraged by the quality of applicants who responded to the request for expressions of interest in the position."

"The process of selection was thorough and competitive and we are sure we have now appointed a CEO who is ideally versed in the concepts of editorial integrity and executive management."

Thompson, who was Group Executive Editor of Fairfax Media in NZ, said:

"Radio New Zealand plays a pivotal role in New Zealand life and I'm immensely looking forward to the challenge."

"I have loved my time with Fairfax. I'm immensely proud of all the things we've achieved as a team and I will leave with a sense of sadness. But it is the right time for me to take on this new challenge at CEO level."