AOC media man Tancred apologises for threats to former CEO

Australian Olympic Committee media director Mike Tancred has made a public apology to former CEO Fiona de Jong.

Former AOC chief Fiona de Jong has received a public apology from AOC media director Mike Tancred

The Australian Olympic Committee’s combative media director Mike Tancred has made an ­“unqualified apology’’ to former chief executive Fiona de Jong, ­admitting he threatened her during an altercation on her final day at the organisation.

Ms de Jong made a formal complaint to the AOC about Mr Tancred’s behaviour. The complaint was eventually handed to an independent panel of three eminent judges for investigation after the incident became public in April during the bitterly contested AOC election campaign.

The panel concluded two weeks ago that Mr Tancred had breached the AOC’s ethical ­behaviour by-law and this amounted to “disreputable conduct’’., but it decided his conduct did not constitute bullying, as Ms de Jong alleged, as it was not repetitive conduct.

The committee determined Mr Tancred, who stood down from his position during the investi­gation, should be reprimanded ­severely for his conduct.

It emerged yesterday that during the inquiry, Mr Tancred had offered to make a public apology to Ms de Jong and this was taken into account in determining his punishment.

In the statement issued yesterday, Mr Tancred admitted he had been in the wrong.

“In December last year, I rang Fiona de Jong about an internal matter at the AOC,’’ his statement said. “During the course of our conversation, I spoke to Ms de Jong in an intimidating ­manner, and made threats to damage her and her reputation by publishing allegations about her.

“I acknowledge that my conduct was hurtful, inappropriate and inconsistent with the values of the AOC.

“I also accept that I caused Ms de Jong considerable distress.

“I wish to record that I have made an unqualified apology to Ms de Jong for my conduct and its impact on her.’’

The altercation between Ms de Jong and Mr Tancred was sparked by a separate complaint she had made against the Australian Olympic team’s Rio chef de mission Kitty Chiller, in which she ­accused Ms Chiller of telling ­people she had leaked information to a journalist during the Olympics.

Ms Chiller denies this and Ms de Jong withdrew that complaint.

Mr Tancred’s future at the ­organisation is uncertain. He is still on leave while the committee investigates other alle­gations of bullying made against him during the inquiry. Ms de Jong did not want to comment last night because of the ongoing process.

AOC president John Coates pledged before his re-election last month that he would change the unusual AOC management structure that gave Mr Tancred the power to defy Ms de Jong.

Mr Tancred has acted as the spokesman for both the AOC and Mr Coates for almost 20 years.

Until Ms de Jong’s resignation late last year, Mr Tancred reported directly to Mr Coates rather than to the chief executive.

With the appointment of new chief Matt Carroll last month, all departments now report to him.

Mr Coates also committed to an independent review of the workplace culture at the AOC, which Mr Carroll has ordered.

The AOC boss was re-elected, 58-35, last month.