TV star’s confidential complaint about Wick revealed directly to him

A high-profile Nine celebrity who raised concerns about news boss Darren Wick with the network’s HR staff had her confidential complaint and identity revealed directly to him against her wishes.

Exclusive: A high-profile Nine celebrity who raised concerns about news boss Darren Wick with Human Resources had her confidential complaint and identity revealed directly to him against her wishes.

The scandal surrounding Channel Nine deepens with the shocking allegations that the company betrayed the confidence of a presenter when she raised her concerns with the appropriate channels about the toxic culture under Wick.

The latest revelation about the mishandling of serious complaints comes as it can be revealed that Nine chief executive, Mike Sneesby, planned a staff conference in Bowral.

At the conference, there was due to be a humiliating ice bath challenge that horrified top women at the media giant who were being asked to strip down to their swimwear in freezing conditions in front of colleagues. The event was later abandoned.

It has also emerged that Wick had multiple consensual romances with women working for him, as well as being accused of sexually harassing others.

Darren Wick while news director at Channel 9 headquarters in Willoughby, Sydney.

According to a senior company figure, who is concerned about events at Nine, a famous presenter went to the People and Culture Department to confide in them about Wick, and his toxic management style.

Wick was her direct boss, yet he refused to speak to her, or respond to emails, texts or calls.

The woman requested that HR deal with her initial conversation with them in strict confidence, as she hadn’t yet decided whether to formalise her complaint against Wick, the most powerful man in the news division.

Yet, her concerns were immediately conveyed to Wick and her identity was also revealed.

The Nine figure, who is familiar with the events that unfolded, said the woman was horrified her conversation had not been kept confidential and that her trust had been breached.

This is the third Nine employee known to have raised concerns about Wick.

Wick leaving Hornsby local court in 2021 after appearing for high range drink driving. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

One woman made a formal legal complaint that led to Wick’s departure earlier this year; a second woman raised the toxic culture at Nine with a board director, and now, this presenter, is the third.

There is no suggestion the HR employees told Wick of this complaint themselves, simply that the supposedly confidential process at Nine failed.

The loss in confidence in the HR process has been raised in the past week, amid concerns that women don’t feel safe to raise complaints about their superiors.

These concerns fed into the email by Channel Nine chief executive Mike Sneesby to staff on Wednesday when he gave assurances that the complaints process was confidential.

“If you raise an issue, including making a complaint, our processes are designed to ensure the confidentiality and protectionfor the individual, as well as the confidentiality of the person who the complaint is directed at,” he wrote in the email.

“This is critical - no matter what level you are in our business, to ensure you feel safe to make a complaint and know thatit will be handled seriously and discreetly.”

Mr Sneesby also said that making complaints about inappropriate conduct would not be career-damaging.

Nine CEO Mike Sneesby. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The chief executive is understood to have broken his working holiday to fly home from LA to deal with the crisis at his network.

Mr Sneesby didn’t respond to questions today about why Wick, who had a complaint of inappropriate conduct levelled at him,was allowed back in the office for at least six hours on April 24th, and whether this was a failure to protect employees andprovide a safe working environment.

It’s also understood Wick was given a large payout.

It’s understood the woman has not as yet received any compensation and her matter against the company is understood to beongoing.

It’s not yet clear whether the claim she has made against Wick will, or won’t, affect her career.

Sky News has learned of a culture under Wick where he refused to engage with some staff, which was seen as a tactic to keepreporters, often women, on edge, while forging extremely close bonds with others.

So close, in fact, that Wick had multiple consensual relationships with either direct reports or junior employees in the newsroom.

One of his relationships was with a Nine News reporter and another with a producer who was promoted to an interstate role.

It created an unhealthy environment amid allegations of perceived favouritism.

Darren Wick pictured leaving Hornsby local court in 2021. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

There’s now deep unrest at Nine this week as women debate whether or not to come forward to HR with their experiences of harassment while working at one of the country’s biggest TV networks.

Even before our revelations this week about Wick’s history of alleged inappropriate behaviour, company morale was low.

Confidential sources tell me that the recent staff engagement survey across the entire Nine group recorded scores in the low 60s, reflecting both on the culture at the company and Mr Sneesby’s own leadership.

Senior women were also appalled by Sneesby’s plan to hold a staff conference in Bowral around 18 months ago that would feature an ice bath challenge.

These revelations come after a separate Nine Network star claimed that Wick had groped her and breathed heavily down her neck at the Logies afterparty in 2019.

She said he had his hands everywhere, he was breathing heavily in her ear and she had to peel him off.

She said she might have kicked or pushed if it were any other man, but he was her boss.

The presenter’s most damning remarks were for the board member who ignored her concerns about the toxic culture at Nine.

“There was no assistance provided by the network to source the leaks, stamp out the toxic behaviour or change the culture.

“After board level there’s nowhere to go and I was fearful of losing my job.”

Nine newspapers and television, thus far, haven’t reported on the scandal the network is facing, but Ray Hadley - who is sosenior he’s untouchable - today said the bad behaviour has to stop and he even offered to intervene and support women whohad experienced issues.

“If you wish me to become involved, I’m happy privately to become involved, a couple of young women have already reached outto me,” Hadley said.

“The lines have been drawn in the sand…. I’ll tell you one thing, it’s got to stop.”

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Originally published as TV star’s confidential complaint about Wick revealed directly to him