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ABC Board to commence managing director hunt, as Mark Scott confirms 2016 exit

Mark Scott will step down as managing director of ABC in mid-2016, ending a ten year term.

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ABC Managing Director Mark Scott has confirmed his intention to step down as managing director of ABC next year.

Scott, 52, has previously flagged that he would not be seeking another term leading the ABC, but has signalled to staff that the ABC Board will soon begin a recruitment process.

He sent this email to staff today:

Colleagues,

I once answered a question on how I got my job at the ABC by giving the simple, honest answer: I responded to the position advertised in the newspaper.

This note is just to tell you that if you are interested in being the next Managing Director, keep your eye out for an ad in coming months.

Earlier this year I indicated to the Board that I was planning to leave the ABC at the end of my second term which is in the middle of 2016. (I don’t think this will come as a surprise to anyone as I have made no secret of the fact that I think 10 years is a long time to run an organisation, particularly in a sector as dynamic and fast-changing as media.)

To ensure a smooth succession and an effective handover next year, the Board will shortly commence the process to select the next Managing Director. Accordingly, I think now is the appropriate time to confirm to ABC staff my notification to the Board and my timetable for departure.

In the interim, there is lots to be done, with a number of big projects underway. I am particularly focused on our audience strategy, the development of our digital offerings, hitting our budget targets and making the case for tri-funding. I will update you on this work down the track.

Can I add how pleased I am with our commitment to the main priority this year, serving the nation as the independent home of Australian conversations, culture and stories? On television, we have broadcast remarkable dramas, documentaries and comedies. Our radio services continue to connect millions of Australians each day with Triple J having its best-ever radio survey ever last month. In news, we are breaking stories of significance every week; stories with great impact like the 7-Eleven investigation by Four Corners. Our focus on digital is being rewarded with strong and growing audience engagement. Our iview kids app is proving to be enormously popular.

The success of the ABC is due to the passion of its staff and a clear focus on delivering for our audiences everywhere; from the largest cities, to the smallest country towns and those tuning in around the world. That focus will be our continuing priority in the months ahead.

Kind regards,

Mark

Source: Business Insider

9 Responses

  2. Excellent news. Pity it was not sooner.

    The Q&A nonsense is a classic example of Scott who was unable to pull his workers into line when they were clearly being disrespectful and biased on more than one occasion.

    When you combine the closures of the ABC retail business Scott legacy is one of driving the ABC to the ground and providing a unbiased news service contrary to the ABC charter.

    1. Rubbish. The Zaky Mallah debacle is not on Scott’s shoulders and was blown out of all proportion by rabid anti-ABC zealots. As for the ABC having to tighten its belt, perhaps you were unaware that the “People’s Captain” slashed their funding despite a pre-election promise not to do so? You might wish to try and find some of this balance that you were lecturing other people about on the Darren McMullen article.

      1. I wouldn’t call less than a 5% cut, or a $254 million over 5 years slashing. That is what was blown out of all proportion, and the threat of cutting children’s programs was just emotional blackmail. Show me an organisation that cant accommodate a 5% cut and I’ll show you an organisation so full of its own importance that it believes its own spin. Good riddance.

        1. Your tenet that any organisation can accommodate a 5% cut assumes that there is at least 5% wastage to be found. That argument is easily reduced to absurdity by continuing to take away 5% from any organisation and observing what happens.

          A 5% cut is a significant cut in anyone’s language. If it’s such an easy amount to accommodate, perhaps you could reduce your net income by 5% and donate that 5% to some worthy cause?

          1. And your saying that the ABC is being run so expertly that there is no wastage?
            I think not SS, despite the protestations of Mr Scott and assorted employees.
            If I were earning $1000 per week, a 5% reduction would be $50. I think I would manage.

  3. Darcey09 and Bogues may be looking at this from the wrong direction. Wouldn’t Mark Scott make a great Communications Minister? That position has just become available.

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