Former Nine boss and "pugnacious go-getter" Sam Chisholm has died at the age of 78.
The New Zealand-born media executive was a significant figure in the Australian media, first running Kerry Packer's Nine during the 1980s.
He then moved to the UK, tasked with running Packer rival, Rupert Murdoch's BSkyB.
Chisholm was believed to have 'saved' the network from financial woes during his tenure, before returning to Australia for another brief stint with Nine in 2005.
In 2004, he was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame.
In a statement from Nine a spokesperson said: "Sam Chisholm was CEO at Nine in two stints, first in the halcyon television days of the 80s and early 90s and then briefly in 2005. In that first role, he was always regarded as a pugnacious go-getter.
"The so-called ‘starmaker’ at Nine with a big chequebook and loud opinions. Nicknamed a legend in his own lunchtime for his lavish lifestyle at work and play - and the man who popularised the phrase ‘losers have meetings, but winners have parties’.
“Always controversial and a larger than life figure, he left Nine for Britain and Murdoch’s BSkyB and returned 10 years later to a very different and challenging world in Australian television.
"Nine recognises the unique role he played with the Network and for Australian television, and sends their condolences to the extended family and friends on his passing today, in particular, his wife Sue and daughter Caroline.”
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