ABC managing director set to depart national broadcaster
The managing director of the ABC has announced he will depart the national broadcaster next year.
In a statement released on Thursday afternoon, it was revealed that David Anderson has notified the ABC Board of his intention to leave the organisation following a recruitment process for his successor.
He will remain in the role until early 2025 when a successor is announced.
Anderson was first appointed managing director in May 2019 after acting in the role from September 2018. He has worked at the ABC for 35 years.
“I am still very much committed to the importance of the ABC to the nation,” Anderson said.
“I believe it is the right moment for leadership renewal for the next stage of the ABC’s continued evolution.
“To have the opportunity to serve the Australian public and lead such talented and dedicated people across the country and overseas for what is approaching six years is humbling.
“I am grateful to [ABC chair] Kim Williams and the Board for their support and their efforts to persuade me to stay on for my full second term. Their unabashed enthusiasm for the importance and future of the Corporation makes this decision easier. I am confident the timing is right for both me and the ABC.”
Williams congratulated Anderson on his time at the broadcaster, describing him as a “loyal, devoted and talented” executive.
“I have requested that he stay on in the role until a new managing director has been recruited and appointed. David’s agreement to offer support through the coming months to ensure a smooth the transition to a new Managing Director is welcome, generous and has been accepted,” Williams said.
“I have to say my admiration for him and his commitment to the ABC is undiminished and my respect grows ever greater. He is an exemplary executive in many ways.”
The news comes only months after ABC staff and Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) members said they “have lost confidence” in Anderson, after they passed a vote of no confidence in the managing director.
The MEAA said in January that the vote was passed “overwhelmingly” at an online meeting attended by over 200 members, who believe Anderson has failed “to defend the integrity of the ABC and its staff from outside attacks”.
In a statememt made on Thursday afternoon, MEAA’s acting director Michelle Rae said “the ABC is one of Australia’s most important institutions, and as such it needs strong leadership.
“The managing director of the ABC must put the ABC and its staff first. They must be prepared to stare down lobbying by politicians, businesses and unaccountable organisations that seek to interfere in the ABC’s journalism.
“As the effective editor-in-chief of ABC news, the next managing director must reaffirm the independence of its reporting so it can be trusted by all Australians as a source of journalism without fear and favour.
“One of the first tasks of the next managing director should be to end the pointless and costly defence of an unfair dismissal claim by Antoinette Lattouf.
“The right thing to do would be to admit the ABC was wrong to dismiss Ms Lattouf and apologise to her.
“Dropping the case would send a signal to ABC news staff that the managing director is committed to editorial independence and to making the ABC a workplace that is safe and inclusive for people from a wide spectrum of diversity.
“MEAA members are looking for a leader at the ABC who respects their work, is consultative and willing to collaborate with staff for the future of the broadcaster.”
Before stepping into the role of acting managing director in September 2018, Anderson was the director, entertainment and specialist, responsible for all ABC radio music networks (triple j, Double j, Classic, Country and Jazz), podcasts and specialist radio content (Radio National) as well as broadcast television networks (ABCTV, ABC Kids, ABC Comedy, ABC ME), on-demand products and services (ABC iview, ABC listen, ABC Kids listen, ABC Kids) and network websites and apps.
Other roles included director of television, director of the ABC’s digital network and director of strategy and planning.
The ABC Board said it will begin the process to select a new managing director “in due course”.
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Neil Griffiths is the Managing Editor of Mumbrella. He joined the company in October 2023.
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