Alan Sunderland signals retirement as ABC editorial director

ABC Editorial Director Alan Sunderland has confirmed he will retire from ABC, but the departure is not related to current events swamping ABC management.

Sunderland, who has been in charge of editorial policies since 2013 and editorial director since 2016, told The Australian , “I told Mark Scott when he gave me this job and then Michelle when she first started that my plan was to give the role a good five years and then step away in 2019 when I turn 60.

“That’s around April next year and that’s been my plan for years, unaffected by any events. It is still my plan. I hear there’s a world out there.”

Sunderland has frequently addressed Senate hearings on questions of ABC editorial.

Sources say he could leave at the end of the year or next year.