Sir Tony O'Reilly. Photo / Warren BucklandFormer British and Irish Lions rugby star Sir Tony O’Reilly, whose business interests once owned the New Zealand Herald, has died at the age of 88 following a short illness. O’Reilly’s career in media began when he bought Independent Newspapers (now Independent News and Media) in 1973 and became the publisher of the Irish Independent, the Sunday Independent and the Evening Herald. The New Zealand media operations would eventually merge with the Radio Network and become New Zealand Media and Entertainment. O’Reilly had other business interests besides media, including in the food industry where he was a chairman of food giant Heinz.

Source: The Herald May 19, 2024 05:59 UTC