Nine chair Catherine West set for re-election at AGM this week

The Nine board will need to ensure it has the right mix of skills as it starts the process of renewal in the wake of the devastating findings of the Intersection report.

Nine Entertainment chair Catherine West. Picture: Supplied.

Nine chair Catherine West is expected to retain her position at this week’s annual general meeting, despite widespread misgivings within the company’s senior ranks about her capacity to execute cultural reform across the business.

West’s position has come under internal scrutiny over the past few weeks, following the release of the findings of the external review of Nine’s workplace culture, which identified issues of systemic bullying, sexual harassment and misconduct in all divisions of the media giant.

Upon the release of the findings of the report, conducted by consulting group Intersection, Ms West said: “The drivers of these behaviours are broad, however the report has told us there is a lack of leadership accountability; power imbalances; gender inequality and a lack of diversity; and a significant lack of trust in the organisation and leadership at all levels of the business”.

A cohort of senior figures at Nine have reservations about Ms West’s suitability to lead the company long-term, given that she has been a member of the board for the past eight years – a period during which a rotten workplace culture went unchecked.

“The perception is that there can’t be renewal while she’s at the helm,” one senior insider told The Australian.

“Most people think this week isn’t the time to make move on her, but her problem is cultural change doesn’t happen overnight, and she doesn’t have time on her side.

“The fact that she’s been on the board for so long, and is seen by many as one of the old guard, is an issue.”

Another Nine source said the board would need to ensure it had the right mix of skills as it started the process of the company’s renewal in the wake of the devastating findings of the Intersection report.

Ms West joined the Nine board in 2016, and was chair of the people and remuneration committee until she took over as the company’s chair in June, when Peter Costello departed.

The Nine board, let by Ms West, currently has five members, including non-executive director Andrew Lancaster, the chief executive officer of both WIN Corporation and Nine’s largest shareholder Birketu, which is the private investment vehicle of billionaire Bruce Gordon.

Nine Entertainment non-executive director Andrew Lancaster. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

Other non-executive directors on the Nine board include Samantha Lewis, who has been on the board since 2014, Mickie Rosen, who served on the Fairfax board before joining the Nine board in 2018, and Mandy Pattinson who joined the board last year and has extensive media experience.

Only Ms West and Mr Lancaster face re-election at Thursday’s AGM.

If Ms West is re-elected for another three-year period, she will have been on Nine’s board for more than 11 years by the time her term concludes.

Mr Gordon, 95, recently retired from the boards of both WIN and Birketu, and there is widespread speculation that he will soon look to increase his share in Nine to 25 per cent, which would likely lead to him securing a second representative on the board.

He currently owns 14.95 per cent of Nine, and holds an additional 10 per cent in cash swaps, held through investment bank Macquarie.

It is understood Mr Gordon is looking to sell northern NSW TV station NRN, which would allow him to increase his stake by moving his cash swaps into shares.

The Australian asked a WIN spokeswoman about the progress of selling NRN but did not receive a response.

A Nine representative declined to comment on Ms West’s behalf.