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Support for Nine CEO Mike Sneesby dwindles as fresh harassment allegations emerge

Nine CEO Mike Sneesby is under increasing pressure to retain the support of the company’s board in the wake of fresh allegations relating to Darren Wick.

Nine Network chief executive Mike Sneesby. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman
Nine Network chief executive Mike Sneesby. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Nine Network chief executive Mike Sneesby is under increasing pressure to retain the support of the company’s board in the wake of fresh allegations relating to the misconduct of the network’s former news and current affairs boss, Darren Wick.

The Australian has been told that Mr Sneesby’s support base at the highest echelons of the company has dwindled since this masthead revealed on Monday night that he was personally responsible for signing off on the near $1m golden handshake awarded to Wick on his resignation in March.

When the payout was given the green light by Mr Sneesby, the board was aware that serious sexual harassment allegations had been levelled against Wick in January. The Australian understands several members of the seven-person board remain aggrieved that their views on the appropriateness of such a payout were ignored.

It’s unclear if Nine chairman Peter Costello was aware of the massive payment to Wick before it was approved.

Mr Costello, who selected Mr Sneesby to replace Hugh Marks as Nine chief executive in 2021, did not respond to messages from The Australian on Tuesday.

But The Australian understands that Mr Costello and Mr Sneesby are no longer as close as they once were.

Given the apparent cooling of their professional relationship, and the despair of some other board members about how the Wick matter has been handled, senior insiders say Mr Sneesby’s future is now uncertain. “There’s talk that it might just be a matter of time before he goes,” a well-placed Nine source told The Australian.

Nine Chairman Peter Costello and CEO Mike Sneesby.
Nine Chairman Peter Costello and CEO Mike Sneesby.

However, other insiders, who asked not to be named, said Mr Sneesby’s announcement on Monday of an internal investigation into the culture at Nine “may have bought him some time”.

“The investigation will go ahead. That process has to be allowed to play out,” the source said.

On Sunday night, The Australian revealed that it had spoken to more than a dozen former and current TV journalists from Nine who alleged they were subjected to verbal or physical misconduct by Wick.

The following day, Mr Sneesby told staff that Nine would launch an independent review into the “behaviours and concentration of power that has damaged the trust and fairness” at the network.

Former Nine News chief Darren Wick.
Former Nine News chief Darren Wick.

But Nine has been rocked further by allegations made by one of its most high-profile on-air presenters, 3AW mornings host Tom Elliott, who has claimed that he is personally aware of four female Nine staff members who claim they were subjected to inappropriate behaviour from Wick, including sexual harassment.

Elliott’s allegations are particularly significant because they relate to staff who worked in Nine’s Melbourne newsroom, which adds further weight to the suggestion that Wick’s alleged misconduct was more widespread than first thought.

“I know of four women who all allege some very bad behaviour by Darren Wick,” Elliott said on Monday.

“I know the four women … and I think they are telling the truth.

“The behaviour ranges from belittling and berating female employees in front of their colleagues to sexual harassment.

“None of them want to go public. They all fear that Nine will want to take revenge on them.

“It’s a small industry in which we work, and if you upset a big employer like Nine it can be terrible for your career.”

The 3AW host is the most high-profile of Nine’s stable of stars to speak out over the media company’s handling of the Wick matter; other well-known Nine staff have opted to remain silent since the newsman’s alleged inappropriate behaviour was reported.

Mr Sneesby declined to comment on Tuesday; Wick did not respond to messages.

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/support-for-nine-ceo-mike-sneesby-dwindles-as-fresh-harassment-allegations-emerge/news-story/22ff058cd46073bf0a00b34c1d16c824