Search
Close this search box.
Te Papa head

Rick Ellis – new Chief Executive of Te Papa. Source: 3News.CO.NZ

Rick Ellis named new Te Papa head, 3News.CO.NZ, 10 November 2014

Former Television New Zealand and Ansett NZ boss Rick Ellis will take over as the head of Te Papa.

He will take over from acting chief executive Arapata Hakiwai, who has been filling in after former boss Michael Houlihan left after three months in the job.

The announcement of Mr Ellis’ position as chief executive was made this morning.

Museum chairman Evan Williams says the board believes Mr Ellis has the skills and experience to “provide inspirational leadership and move Te Papa’s capabilities to a different level in all respects – including capital and asset management, intellectual capacity, curatorial and audience engagement and financial and operating capability”.

Mr Ellis has previously been managing director of IT services company EDS NZ and most recently group executive of Telstra Media, based in Sydney.

“His extensive background in digital media offers so much to Te Papa as we extend beyond the walls of our buildings,” Mr Williams says.

Mr Ellis believes the museum has a “strong vision for the future”, including the development of Te Papa’s national collections and storage facility in Manukau and the upcoming World War I Gallipoli exhibition.

He will begin his new role on 24 November 2014.

Read more here