Ex-ABC news boss Gaven Morris back in business with digital transformation division at Bastion

Two weeks after finishing as news director Gaven Morris has wasted little time finding a new role.

Former ABC news boss Gaven Morris, left, with Bastion chief executive Jack Watts. Picture: Britta Campion

Former ABC news director Gaven Morris has wasted little time finding a new role, clinching a deal to launch a digital transformation and strategy consultancy at Australia’s biggest independent advertising firm.

Mr Morris will head Bastion Transform as chief executive, agreeing to the appointment only two weeks after leaving ABC after 13 years at the public broadcaster, including the last six as director of news, analysis and investigations.

Bastion Transform is the newest division of the fast-growing group led by chief executive Jack Watts and his brother Fergus.

Bastion recently purchased New Zealand-based Shine to make the combined business Australasia’s biggest locally owned independent agency.

Mr Morris told The Australian he only met Mr Watts in the past few months while seeking advice from a string of business executives on what he should do after announcing he was leaving the ABC.

“It came from me thinking about a different rhythm about how I want to work and who is out there doing interesting things. A couple of people suggested we have a chat and Jack quickly said you should do what you are thinking of doing, with us.

“It will be at a slightly different pace from what I have been doing, working on projects and strategic plans I can invest my time in rather than my time being spent in meetings and steering committees, as tended to be the case as news director.”

Mr Morris will lead the digital advisory, strategy and organisation renewal consultancy backed by the wider Bastion business, which includes traditional media and ad buying but also digital content, film, public relations, research and advisory services.

Bastion has annual revenue well above $50m and growing 30 per cent per year.

It has employed 50 new staff since mid-2021 in an effort to win market share while its foreign-owned rivals have downsized.

“I love big ideas and working with teams to launch future-facing projects,” Mr Morris said.

“I can’t wait to help organisations and institutions seeking to navigate their way towards an increasingly digital future.

“This fourth industrial revolution requires a clear vision, building effective cultures and enacting purposeful plans to keep ahead of so much change.”

The ex-ABC executive admitted to being “exhausted” towards the end of his stint at the national broadcaster, which included several public controversies over the past 18 months.

But he said he was feeling energised at the prospect of working in a business different to the ABC and using his own ideas and skills to transform organisations, making them more digitally savvy.

“It is a bit of its own ecosystem and there’s a broader world out there that I can now explore,” he said.

“One of the really key lessons I learnt is that organisations can be terrified of digital transition. It probably took a few false steps. (You should) not look at it in the way that is all about tipping out an organisation’s DNA and starting again.

“It should be about using that DNA as a strength and seeing (digital transformation) as an opportunity for the future rather than denigrating the past … it is about transforming towards something rather than moving away from something.”

Mr Watts said that digital transformation of businesses had often been led by “platforms and technology issues” but “the real focus should be on the customer and content”.

“Gaven understands an audience and what they want, and the tech solutions should follow that.

“The first wave of digital disruption was about products and the second wave of digital disruption will be about services. It is like [online bank] Judo disrupting the banking industry by focusing on what the customer wants.”

Mr Watts said Bastion was one of the few in its sector to grow substantially during Covid, with the recent Shine deal adding about 20 per cent to its staff.