Nine Entertainment acting CEO Matt Stanton reveals multiple investigations under way into misconduct at the network

Acting CEO Matt Stanton has revealed its been a ‘tough couple of days’ amid findings of extensive misconduct including sexual harassment and bullying at the business.

Nine Entertainment acting chief executive Matt Stanton. Picture: Channel 9

Nine Entertainment boss Matt Stanton has revealed multiple “active investigations” are under way following reports by staff of inappropriate conduct at the media company.

On Monday the acting chief executive sent an email to Nine’s 5000-plus employees telling them “it’s been a tough couple of days” after the handing down of the independent review into the network’s culture on Thursday.

The report revealed Nine was rife with claims of bullying, sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct by staff – both past and present – across the business.

“Since the release of the report, we can appreciate the strong desire to understand accountability for inappropriate behaviour that has occurred in our workplace,” Mr Stanton said in the correspondence, seen by The Australian.

“We currently have a number of active investigations under way into issues raised by employees, some of which are being led by an external investigator whom we have partnered with. No two cases are the same, and I’m sure you can appreciate these investigations need to be conducted in a manner that follows a just and proper process, which can take time.”

Mr Stanton also reiterated that: “There is no place at Nine for the abuse of power, bullying, sexual harassment or inappropriate conduct outlined in the Intersection report or for people who behave that way. There will be change at Nine and individuals will be held to account for behaviour of this nature.”

Staff last week told The Australian they felt “betrayed” by the review, which was instigated following the departure of former news and current affairs boss Darren Wick in March after a female staff member complained about his allegedly inappropriate conduct.

Former Nine Entertainment news boss Darren Wick. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Damian Shaw

Despite this, upon his departure Nine’s director of television Michael Healy thanked Wick for his career at the company and said in an email to staff at the time: “As always in News there are tremendous ups and downs, wins and challenges and Wickie has seen more than most.”

Mr Stanton on Monday said the “board and management were committed to building a speak-up culture as part of the action plan”.

“We encourage you to continue to speak up, raise concerns, or lodge complaints through the channel you most feel comfortable using.”

Wick was replaced by Fiona Dear in May.

Nine Entertainment’s director of news and current affairs Fiona Dear. Picture: Liam Mendes.

The independent review was originally established by former CEO Mike Sneesby in May to focus on “behaviours and concentration of power that has damaged the trust and fairness within our television newsrooms”.

It was later expanded to include complaints from across the entire business.

Dear is yet to address all news and current affairs staff or have any formal email correspondence with them since the findings of the review by external consulting firm Intersection were made public.

She has been contacted by The Australian multiple times but has not responded.

On Monday The Australian revealed a senior male manager at the company was facing an investigation over an alleged rape that was reported by a junior female staffer as part of the review.

Lawyers at firm Ashurst this month spoke with the woman – who has engaged her own legal team – about an alleged incident that took place after end-of-year celebrations in 2019 near Nine’s then headquarters at Willoughby on Sydney’s north shore.

Mr Stanton also said in his email to staff “confidentiality” in any reports made about inappropriate conduct remained critical.

“Confidentiality is integral to building trust in our processes and identifying individuals involved in investigations or talking about them publicly undermines this trust,” he said.

“We also consider the welfare of the people involved, with health, safety and wellbeing of them and everyone in the workplace a priority. This need for care and kindness further underlines the importance of confidentiality in our processes.”

Mr Stanton also said confidential 24/7 support would be provided to staff at the company’s metropolitan locations for the next few days.

Originally published as Nine Entertainment acting CEO Matt Stanton reveals multiple investigations under way into misconduct at the network