David Gyngell quits Nine, Hugh Marks appointed CEO.

Nine Entertainment Co. has confirmed Hugh Marks will succeed David Gyngell as its Chief Executive Officer from tomorrow.

David Gyngell will remain on the Board as a Non-Executive Director.

Hugh Marks joined the Board of NEC in February 2013. With almost 20 years’ experience as a senior executive in content production and broadcasting. He will cease his involvement in his own talent agency RGM Artists, and other independent companies producing content for broadcast and pay TV.

He was previously CEO of Southern Star Group, worked as Nine Network legal counsel and then as Director of Nine Films and Television for seven years and served as an authority member of ACMA for 2 years.

NEC Chairman David Haslingden said “On behalf of the Board, I warmly welcome Hugh to his new role of Chief Executive Officer. His extensive experience in television, coupled with his detailed knowledge of NEC, made him an obvious replacement for David. We look forward to his experience, his leadership and his sure hand in these challenging but exciting times”.

“I’d also like to thank David Gyngell for his tireless eight years as CEO of Nine Entertainment Co.. He has led the Company through a significant restructuring, whilst remaining an active and inspiring leader on a day-to-day basis. Personally, I am sad to see David stepping down from his active management role, however I am delighted he will be continuing his long association with Nine as a non-Executive Director”, he said.

Hugh Marks said, ‘It’s an absolute honour to have this opportunity – to work with the diverse group of highly skilled and talented people who contribute to our business each and every day. Together, we can work to enhance the company’s existing brands and to build new ones and lead the innovation of our premium content business. We must maintain a core that remains strong and relevant to audiences and advertisers alike, while we invest in new ideas, new platforms and develop new revenues, becoming more local and driving more Australian content”.

“I come to the business and this role at a time when new platforms and business models for content are achieving reach and scale. It will be a challenge to find the right path but I believe we have the best team, the assets and ideas to do it”, he said.

David Gyngell has been CEO of Nine since 2007 (in his second term), succeeding Eddie McGuire. The son of Bruce Gyngell, he most famously steered the company through a financial restructure avoiding administration in 2012. Known for his love of Television programming, there were also inglorious moments, including the brawl with best mate James Packer last year.

David Gyngell said, “I have great regard for Hugh Marks. He’s got the experience, he’s got skin in the game, he knows the industry so well and he’s very well regarded. Hugh was an obvious selection as CEO and I believe he’ll do a stellar job. For my part, it’s time. I always say Nine is part of my DNA, and it’s true. From my boyhood alongside my Dad, to this day. I love the culture and achievement of this company and I love its people. That won’t change. I will remain on the Board, and I’ll be happy to offer a little advice or support when it’s sought. It’s now up to Hugh and the team to run the show, and I confidently wish them the very best”.

In a note to staff David Gyngell said,

Dear All

Just a brief message of my deep appreciation to each and every one of you for your professional and personal commitment to Nine across the many years we have all been associated. Like all good businesses, its great people is what makes Nine tick.

We have been and remain the best brand in our game, and that’s down to the sheer talent, hard work, dedication and loyalty of our great team across the country.

For that, I salute you all. I am eternally grateful for the blood, sweat and tears that you’ve contributed in so many ways which makes us all so proud of our product and our culture.

It’s been a long and fantastic journey for me, and I’d like to think I am a better person for it.

I have made lifelong friends here and enjoyed loyalty and support across the spectrum that money simply could not buy. I am very proud about that, and I cannot thank you enough.

I warmly encourage you to lend that same strong support to NEC’s new CEO, Hugh Marks. He’s a very good man who’s well equipped to lead from the front and achieve big things for this company. I could not be handing the baton to a more deserving nor capable successor, and I wish Hugh the very best.

From me, it’s not so much a goodbye – more a ‘see you around’.

I will remain on the NEC board and of course take a close, keen and barracking interest in the continued good fortune of Nine and its people.

And I’ll of course be happy to hear from anyone who wants to say hello, provided they’re not hoping for a yes from me when they’ve scored a no from management!

Again, my very grateful thanks for everything. Go well.

Warm regards and love
David

Incoming CEO Hugh Marks has also sent staff a note:

Dear All
As you will have seen from the media release this morning today is my first day in the role of CEO of NEC.
I’m completely energised to come to the role at such a key time of change and opportunity. NEC makes and distributes great content, through the dedication, creativity and commitment of all of you. Quality, brand enhancing, engaging content relevant to our audiences is and must always remain our focus.
We must also keep innovating. Across our content, our business models, our relationships and through the way we create, publish and exploit our content. NEC has already taken a number of key steps along this path and we will be doing much more as we continue to innovate into the modern, confident, content business that lies ahead.
I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible over the next few weeks as I explore beyond the third floor and visit the various NEC offices. Please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts on our business and our future.
Finally I would like to take this opportunity to thank Gyng for his support and for the energy, enthusiasm and driving passion he’s put into Nine during his time as CEO. His leadership has been invaluable in putting the business in the shape it is today for us all to have the opportunity to take it forward into a new future. Like David I love the product and the business and can’t wait to get into full swing.
Talk soon.
All the best
Hugh