Nine Entertainment CEO Mike Sneesby tells staff: We must address ‘issues of the past’

Mike Sneesby has told staff Nine is committed to ensuring ‘everyone feels respected’ and admits the company needs ‘cultural change’.

Nine Entertainment chief executive Mike Sneesby has told staff the network must address the “issues of the past” in order to overhaul its culture amid complaints of bullying, intimidation and sexual harassment.

On Monday Mr Sneesby sent an email to all staff and said the company is continuing to “work on driving cultural change” as more claims of serious misconduct emerge at the network.

Mr Sneesby – who remains under pressure amid Nine’s woes – has also urged employees to complete updated mandatory sexual harassment prevention training and also complete an anonymous survey to report sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour.

“We are committed to ensuring that Nine’s culture is one where everyone feels respected, valued and included,” he said in the email.

“That culture can only be delivered by acknowledging the issues of the past, recognising the changes in our present, and focusing on an energising future.

“We all have a role to play in making Nine the organisation we want it to be.”

Mr Sneesby’s email comes after The Australian on Monday revealed Kerri-Anne Kennerley, one of the station’s most-loved on-air talents, said there was an “entrenched” culture of bullying at the network and also that further allegations had been reported involving two senior male managers which involved “predatory behaviour”.

Mr Sneesby’s message also comes one week after the company’s chairman Peter Costello quit after he was involved in a fracas at Canberra Airport with The Australian’s journalist Liam Mendes.

A stills taken from vision by Liam Mendes, a reporter for The Australian, after he approached Peter Costello at Canberra airport. Picture: Liam Mendes

Mr Costello knocked the reporter over while he was being asked questions about the company’s woes.

Mr Costello quit three days later and Catherine West took over as chair.

The external review into Nine’s television news and current affairs division – which is being conducted by boutique consulting firm Intersection – is still underway and Mr Sneesby urged employees to report any bad behaviour.

“Your participation in the review is completely anonymous,” he assured staff.

“We will share the findings of the review once it is completed.”

He said the completion date depends on how many people take part in the review.

Nine has been in turmoil since The Australian revealed last month veteran news and current affairs boss Darren Wick left the network in March after a complaint was made by a female staffer about inappropriate behaviour involving him.

Wick has not spoken publicly since he left Nine on March 15, when he signed off in an email saying “after many long beach walks” he had decided to depart the network.

He had been off work on extended leave prior to his departure and Nine’s communications team repeatedly said he was going to be returning to the network – this did not happen.

Mr Sneesby also told staff on Monday a dedicated hotline to report sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour remains available and work being done is “critical to ensuring all our people feel safe and respected in the workplace”.

He also said people had contacted him and other members of the leadership team from across the country.

Last week The Australian contacted the 10 managers who work under Mr Sneesby to ask if they support him – not one of them responded.

Nine’s share price closed at $1.41 on Monday.

Originally published as Nine Entertainment CEO Mike Sneesby tells staff: We must address ‘issues of the past’