SBS, ABC keep reappointments on the down-low

SBS’ board has reappointed managing director James Taylor, who will lead the public broadcaster until 2028. Taylor’s appointment, signed off by the board in November 2022, was not publicly announced.

The broadcaster confirmed the appointment to this masthead in the same week it was revealed that the tenure of ABC managing director David Anderson had been extended earlier this year until 2028.

SBS’ top job will be occupied by James Taylor for another term.Credit: Eddie Jim, The Age

“Mr Taylor is managing director of SBS and his term is due to conclude in October 2028,” an SBS spokesperson said.

Anderson and Taylor are the highest-paid executives at their publicly funded media organisations, with Taylor’s total remuneration, as revealed in SBS’ 2021-22 annual report, at $951,833. Anderson’s current salary is $1.03 million, marginally down from $1.09 million the year before.

A spokesperson for acting Communications Minister Mark Dreyfus said the government welcomed the reappointment of both Taylor and Anderson for second terms.

“The government is focused on supporting the stability and independence of the public broadcasters. We’ve introduced new five-year funding terms and are conducting a review of options to support the independence of both broadcasters.”

Taylor was promoted to the top job in October 2018, initially on a five-year contract. He joined the multicultural broadcaster in 2012 as head of corporate finance and was subsequently promoted to chief financial officer.

At both broadcasters, reappointing the managing director is at the discretion of the boards. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland approved the ABC board’s proposal in April.

Last week, opposition communications spokesman David Coleman took aim at the government over the handling of Anderson’s reappointment, questioning why the decision was not made public.

A similar lack of disclosure at a public company would be in “clear breach” of legal obligations, he said.

Unlike the ABC, SBS currently has a full roster on its board, with all nine seats filled.

Taylor will join David Anderson (pictured) in leading the national broadcasters until 2028.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

The ABC has two of its nine board seats vacant, with a decision on replacements still months away, while chair Ita Buttrose told the government last week she is not seeking a second term when her contract expires in March.

While a government spokesperson said there was no time frame on the process to appoint a successor, on Friday it put a job application for the role out to market.

The process is supported by global executive recruitment firm Challis & Company, with the independent nomination panel then assessing candidates and providing a shortlist of at least three candidates to the prime minister and communications minister.

Alex Wake, associate professor in journalism at RMIT, said she had no concerns over both appointments, despite the lack of disclosure, adding the public broadcasters had other governance issues that needed to be resolved.

The federal government is conducting a review, announced in July, into governance and funding at the two broadcasters.

The independent panel that selects the shortlist of candidates for board and chair roles is “not quite independent”, Wake said, adding there is still some way to go in removing any sense of politics in the government-appointed roles.

Anderson and Taylor “appear to have done a fairly good job”, Wake said. “Neither have been particularly controversial, they’re both inoffensive appointees, they’ve kept their heads down and not been in any kind of scandal.”

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