CEO, Fairfax Media Limited (Sydney)

CEO, Fairfax Media Limited (Sydney)

David Kirk was appointed CEO of Fairfax Media Limited, Australasia's largest newspaper publishing group in August 2005, and formally assumed the position in October 2005.

Prior to Fairfax Media, Mr Kirk was the CEO and Managing Director of ASX listed PMP Limited, the largest magazine and commercial printing and media services company in Australia.

Prior to joining PMP Limited, he was Regional President, Australasia for Norske Skog the world’s largest manufacturer of newsprint and magazine grades of paper. Mr Kirk previously worked for Fletcher Challenge Paper and Fletcher Challenge Energy in senior executive roles in New Zealand and Australia.

Prior to joining Fletcher Challenge, Mr Kirk worked for three years as first Executive Assistant and then Chief Policy Advisor to the Rt. Hon. Jim Bolger, Prime Minister of New Zealand.

Apart from the business arena, he represented New Zealand in rugby union from 1983-1987. He captained the All Blacks in 1986 and 1987. In 1987, under his leadership the All Blacks won the inaugural Rugby World Cup. In 1987 he was awarded an MBE for services to rugby. In 1987 he took up a Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford University, studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics. His first degree was in Medicine. He graduated from the University of Otago in New Zealand in 1985.