Former Nine CEO Hugh Marks won’t be ‘afraid of making changes’ as new ABC managing director

Hugh Marks says the national broadcaster must focus on being relevant to a wider cross-section of Australia, setting out his priorities for when he takes the reins of the public broadcaster in March.

New ABC managing director Hugh Marks on Tuesday. Picture: NewsWire

The incoming managing director of the ABC, veteran commercial media executive Hugh Marks, says the national broadcaster must focus on being relevant to a wider cross-section of Australia, and has vowed that he won’t be “afraid of making changes” to meet that objective when he takes the reins of the publicly funded ­organisation in March.

Following an extensive domestic and international search, Mr Marks was named on Tuesday as the replacement for outgoing ABC boss David Anderson, who announced in August that he was departing the broadcaster just one year into his second five-year term.

ABC chair Kim Williams said Mr Marks was “unusually well qualified” for the position.

“Hugh was a stand-out candidate, not only for his experience across every facet of the media but for his strong track record of leading media organisations and driving substantial and sustained audience engagement. He is the right person to lead the ABC as we plan right now for renewal and investment,” Mr Williams said.

Mr Marks was the chief executive of Nine Entertainment from 2015 to 2020, during which time he oversaw the historic merger between the broadcast company and publishing giant Fairfax Media.

Marks: ‘The ABC needs to mean more to more Australians.’ Picture: NewsWire

In a sit-down interview with The Australian on Tuesday, Mr Marks, 58, said the ABC “needs to mean more to more Australians”, and must focus on being relevant.

“The ABC needs to have a broad audience appeal at the same time as it needs to be able to pursue things that are important, and I don’t see that as a conflict. I see those two needs as being complementary,” the 58-year-old said.

“We need to make sure we make the right choices about what we prioritise and why. We must do things because we can do them well, and not do things just because we can. And if there is change that needs to be made, then we shouldn’t be afraid of making those changes.”

Mr Marks’s comments closely echo those of Mr Williams, who soon after assuming the role of ABC chair in March said he wanted the national broadcaster to recapture “the heartland of con­temporary relevance to Australia and Australians”.

Mr Marks told The Australian that he had known Mr Williams “for many years”, although they have never previously worked together. While Mr Williams has developed a reputation for imposing his authority during his time at other media organisations, Mr Marks said he was confident that the pair would make a good team.

“What I can say is it is important in any organisation, whether that be the ABC or anyone else, that people are clear about who’s responsible on issues,” he said.

“That’s what Kim and I have spoken about. We’re in alignment on that and we will continue to make sure that it is clear to everyone as to who’s responsible for what particular action.”

In 2016, while Nine CEO, Mr Marks made a written submission to a Senate committee hearing in which he said Nine was “30 per cent more efficient at producing television than the ABC”.

Asked on Tuesday if he still held that view, Mr Marks said: “I can’t remember the exact facts but I do know that there are things that Nine does incredibly well, and there are probably reasons why the ABC might pursue things ­differently.

“Getting into the detail of why that’s the case … will be a big part of my role.

“I look forward to getting to the bottom of that and if change is needed, then we’ll have to make change.”

He declined to comment on the contentious matter of ABC journalists’ use of social media and, specifically, the posting of political commentary on social media channels.

“I think this is an issue I need to get more into the detail of and so I think that’ll be something I’ll pick up in March,” he said.

Mr Marks’s predecessor Mr Anderson and Mr Williams have both publicly expressed their frustrations at ABC journalists’ use of social media, with regards to politically partisan statements on digital platforms.

Despite Mr Marks’s extensive media career – mostly at executive level – the 58-year-old has had little hands-on newsroom ­experience.

Asked whether his lack of time on newsroom floors was an issue, given that the position of ABC managing director encompasses the role of the organisation’s ­editor-in-chief, Mr Marks said: “I’ve got the background and the ability to engage on what are the important elements of that (news coverage), from the perspective of how do we make sure that we continue to reach as many Australians as possible, and mean as much as we can to as many Australians as possible.”

Earlier this year, serious allegations emerged that during – and after – Mr Marks’s five-year tenure at Nine, instances of bullying, harassment and exploitation of power imbalances were rife within the company’s broadcast division.

The toxic culture was laid bare when several women came forward to complain that they had been mistreated by former Nine news director Darren Wick, who held the job throughout Mr Marks’s time as CEO. The Wick scandal led to the commissioning of an independent review by consultancy firm Intersection. The report’s damning findings were released in October.

There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Mr Marks, and on Tuesday he told The Australian he was “shocked” to learn of the raft of complaints by former and current Nine employees.

“The reflection for me is, I guess, how can I be much more proactive and get out into the organisation and get a feel for the things that are in the way of people doing their job well,” he said.

“I’ve got to spend a lot more time and prioritise that equally with all the other big decisions that you have to do with organisations like the ABC. And I think I’ll be a better leader for it.”

Mr Marks announced he was standing down as CEO of Nine Entertainment in November 2020 following media scrutiny of a consensual relationship with a lower-ranked colleague, Alexi Baker, amid speculation he had lost the support of the board.

Mr Marks, Ms Baker and their two-year-old child live together in Sydney.

Mr Marks will begin his role at the ABC on March 10.