Guthrie sacking: Her antithesis takes ABC helm

Acting ABC managing director David Anderson is everything Mich­elle Guthrie isn’t.

Acting ABC managing director David Anderson.

Acting ABC managing director David Anderson is everything Mich­elle Guthrie isn’t.

A respected ABC careerist who retains a low profile even within the public broadcaster, Anderson was the leading internal candidate to replace Mark Scott in late 2015.

In the end, international headhunters Egon Zehnder and former chairman James Spigelman picked Ms Guthrie over Mr ­Anderson, who is well-liked by ABC staff.

The ABC board has invited Mr Anderson, currently the director, entertainment & specialist, responsible for broadcast television networks and associated services, radio music networks, podcasts and specialist radio content, to serve as acting managing director until the role is filled permanently.

Mr Anderson has enjoyed a successful career in the broadcast television and media industry for nearly 30 years. “I recognise the challenges involved in transitions of this kind but I am honoured to accept the board’s invitation and look forward to working with our outstanding people to execute our strategy,” he said yesterday.

The ABC board, meanwhile, has begun a formal search process that will involve internal and external candidates.

By law, managing directors are selected by the board independently of the government and ­opposition of the day.

 

Mr Anderson would be a safe pair of hands at a time when staff morale is close to rock bottom. As a source close to the ABC board said last night: “There was a sigh of relief today when people discovered it was David who would lead the organisation. There is a high degree of agreement that David is a popular and respected leader at a time the organisation needs that.”

Mr Anderson joined the ABC in Adelaide 29 years ago as a utility attendant after a traffic accident meant he had to give up his job as a courier. He worked his way from the mailroom to assistant at the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, to director of corporate strategy and planning and, eventually, to director of television.

A former senior ABC executive who once worked closely with him told The Australian last night: “The smartest thing the ABC board has done is to appoint David Anderson as interim MD. “Just as Russell Balding provided stability and strong leadership following the removal of Jonathan Shier, David Anderson is the only director at the ABC who could provide that leadership now.”

Among other contenders for the position, Louise Higgins is a leading internal candidate and at various times has had the favour of both Ms Guthrie and ABC chairman Justin Milne. The chief financial and strategy officer has worked previously for commercial entities in Nova Entertainment and the BBC.

Fairfax Media chief executive Greg Hywood will be looking for a new gig come December when his company is subsumed into Nine Entertainment after its takeover. There is precedent: former ABC managing director Mark Scott came from Fairfax, and was a more lowly executive to Mr Hywood.

Michael Ebeid would be an unlikely candidate, as the outgoing SBS managing director is about to jump ship to a lucrative position at Telstra, although some in the sector think he will be bored in the new corporate role.

Also among the contenders according to Maurice Newman, who chaired the ABC from 2007 to 2012, is former chief operating officer David Pendleton, who resigned last year after 20 years with the ABC. Newman also flagged former News Corp and Foxtel CEO Kim Williams and outgoing Australian News Channel CEO Angelos Frangopoulos, who is joining Sky Arabia.