ABC boss David Anderson taps Michael Carrington for entertainment division role

The ABC’s new boss has tapped Michael Carrington to lead its entertainment division.

The ABC’s Michael Carrington (far left) with Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore and others.

ABC has appointed Michael Carrington as director of its entertainment and specialist content division, the latest senior appointment under managing director David Anderson.

Mr Anderson, who was promoted to the top job in May by the ABC board, said Mr Carrington “brings a track record of outstanding content and creativity” to the public broadcaster’s leadership team and E&S division, which he has managed over the past year.

“He is a talented and accomplished individual who has shown the ability to innovate and grow audiences through diverse content across multiple platforms,” Mr Anderson said.

The appointment of Mr Carrington, who has worked in media for three decades, comes a month after Mr Anderson appointed media veteran Judith Whelan as director of ABC’s regional and local operations.

Libbie Doherty, who has been with the ABC for four years, was appointed head of children’s production in June.

As well as senior executive appointments, the ABC has made a string of on-air changes with ABC journalist Lisa Millar taking over from ABC television’s News Breakfast co-present Virginia Trioli.

Trioli will takeover the high-profile hosting role on ABC’s Melbourne morning radio program on October 14 following the departure of long-serving host Jon Faine.

Barrie Cassidy, who recently left ABC’s flagship political television show Insiders, has been replaced by Sky News David Speers, who will start next year. In the mean time, ABC journalists will fill the hosting void for the rest of the year.

The ABC still needs to pick a new Q&A host, with Tony Jones heading to China later this year with his wife, former Four Corners host and incoming ABC Beijing bureau chief, Sarah Ferguson.

Mr Carrington joined the ABC in 2016 as head of children’s content, and two years later was appointed head of distribution for E&S. He has been acting director of E&S since September.