Andrew Szusterman

Andrew Szusterman attended Wellington's Scots College, before punctuating studies in English Literature at Victoria University with a Diploma in Radio Broadcasting at Christchurch Polytechnic. After five years as a DJ for ZMFM, he became ZM's Music Director, and helped launch the ZM brand nationwide. In 1999 Szusterman headed offshore, where he rose up the ranks at MTV UK and Ireland, to become Head of Music at the channel from 2000 to 2002. On returning home he was appointed Programme Director for radio station Channel Z (later Kiwi FM). 

In 2003 Szusterman took his talents for curating content for young audiences, and applied them to television. Alongside station manager Suzanne Wilson, he established MediaWorks’ free-to-air music channel C4. He remained in the role until 2008, then became MediaWorks’ Associate Director of Programming for TV3 and C4. 

In 2011 he served as Group Programme Director for the group, with responsibility for MediaWorks Radio (which includes The Edge, The Rock, The Breeze, and Mai FM). During this period he was network executive on MediaWorks hit NZ’s Next Top Model, and was an executive producer on both seasons of The X Factor (including supervising the firing of judges Natalia Kills and Willy Moon, after the pair’s controversial comments about one of the contestants made global headlines).

In 2014 Szusterman was appointed Chief Content Officer for MediaWorks TV, responsible for programming content across MediaWorks' TV radio and digital platform. Since then he has overseen big changes at MediaWorks. In a fast changing news environment he managed the development of 7pm television slot The Project. Inspired by the Australian show of the same name, it replaced the short-lived Story in 2017 (which took over from the long-running Campbell Live). 

The same year, Szusterman championed the first brand development of MediaWorks' television arm in over a decade, including changing its ID from 'TV3' to 'Three'. "We’ve had that brand since 2003," he said, noting that Lorde was then just seven. "The point is that the world the brand lives in has changed. It was no longer fit for purpose." Szusterman was also behind an (ultimately unsuccessful) TV3 push to get a daily soap opera funded by NZ On Air.

High profile shows under his watch included The Bachelor, Westside, MasterChef NZ, Dancing with the Stars, and Married at First Sight.  

After five years as Chief Content Officer, Szusterman left MediaWorks in October 2019. He was set to join production company South Pacific Pictures in February 2020, as Managing Director.

Profile updated on 8 January 2020

Sources include
Andrew Szusterman
Martin Bradbury, 'Can Andrew Szusterman save MediaWorks at 7pm?' The Daily Blog website. Loaded 18 November 2016. Accessed 8 January 2020
Editor, 'MediaWorks appoints Andrew Szusterman Group Content & Entertainment Brand Director'. Screenz website. Loaded 14 September 2014. Accessed 8 January 2020
Damien Venuto, 'What does MediaWorks have in common with the Nokia 3310, Saddam Hussein, and seven-year-old Lorde?' StopPress website. Loaded 9 February 2017. Accessed 8 January 2020