Media Insider: Sky CFO Ciara McGuigan resigns in surprise departure

She described her as an accomplished CFO and people leader “with extensive and highly relevant experience in media, telecommunications and retail”.

Sky poached McGuigan from TVNZ, where she had been CFO for four years. She was previously CFO at Mediaworks and also held a number of finance leadership roles at Vodafone.

Sky has not given a reason for her resignation. Media Insider has requested to speak to McGuigan and Moloney.

Moloney said today: “Given the time of year with half-year results due to be reported on 21st February, we have agreed that Ciara will step out of her role immediately and support the transition to Andrew Hirst who joins Sky from 5 February 2025 as interim CFO”.

She thanked McGuigan for her work over the past 10 months.

“These include her emphasis on commercial outcomes across key strategic deals, improving Sky’s annual planning processes and enhancing financial reporting to support insights that drove management action. In addition, Ciara strengthened the finance leadership team, demonstrating the value a high-performing and diverse finance team can deliver. We wish Ciara well with her future plans.”

Those future plans have not been announced.

Moloney said the company was pleased to be welcoming back Hirst, a Deloitte partner, as interim CFO.

“It is excellent to have someone with Andrew’s experience, expertise and longstanding relationship with Sky to support me, the executive team and the finance leadership team.”

Sky TV shares were sitting at $2.75 this morning, down from $2.99 at the beginning of last week, when it announced the ongoing issues with thousands of customers having their TV reception disrupted by an ageing and ailing satellite.

That satellite is due to be replaced by April.

Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie is one of New Zealand’s most experienced senior journalists and media leaders. He has held executive and senior editorial roles at NZME including Managing Editor, NZ Herald Editor and Herald on Sunday Editor and has a small shareholding in NZME.