New ABC boss says Nine’s culture problems never raised with him

New ABC boss Hugh Marks says he didn’t know anything about the workplace issues at Nine Entertainment during his tenure as chief executive and is shocked by the alleged behaviour of some staff members who went unpunished under his nose.

Marks, who was announced as ABC’s managing director on Tuesday, ran ASX-listed Nine, the owner of this masthead, between 2015 and 2021. He notably steered the company through the largest media merger of the past decade, bringing together Fairfax and Nine in a $4 billion deal.

Former Nine chief executive Hugh Marks will run the ABC.Credit: Rhett Wyman

Marks announced his departure from Nine on the same day a column in The Sydney Morning Herald revealed he was in a relationship with Alexi Baker, the company’s former commercial boss.

Nine’s recent culture review, prompted by allegations made against former Nine News chief Darren Wick, covers a five-year period that includes some of Marks’ tenure as chief executive at the company.

Speaking to this masthead on Tuesday, Marks said Wick’s behaviour, and the alleged conduct of disgraced radio shock jock Alan Jones, were never raised with him.

Former Nine news and current affairs chief Darren Wick.

“I’m still shocked by the extent of the allegations against Darren. I didn’t know what I’ve read in the press. No one has contacted me or given me information or asked me any questions from within Nine,” Marks said.

“I feel terrible for the people who had to go through whatever it is they had to go through, obviously at that time. I have to think, ‘Why didn’t we know?’

“I have to understand how hard it is for people to complain and that relying on complaints, obviously, is not the sole way that these things are going to be addressed in the future.”

Jones, a former star host at radio station 2GB, which was absorbed by Nine during Marks’ tenure, will appear in court on Wednesday on indecent assault allegations. He faces 26 charges relating to nine complainants. Marks said that under his watch, Nine didn’t know of the allegations against Jones, and that no detail was provided that could be acted upon at the time.

“It did feel like it was time for us to move on from the relationship with Alan. So that was the decision we made mutually, and I think in hindsight it was certainly the right decision,” he said.

Hugh Marks is Kim Williams’ biggest appointment as ABC chair.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Marks will replace Anderson as the ABC’s managing director in March. Anderson announced his departure in August after six years in the job and just one year after being handed a second contract, leaving millions of dollars on the table.

This masthead first reported Marks’ links to the ABC job in November. The ABC managing director post pays significantly less than its commercial counterparts. Anderson’s total remuneration was $1.16 million in the 2024 financial year. Marks’ full package in his final full year as Nine chief was $2.16 million, down from $4.96 million the year prior.

The ABC’s board met in the first week of December for the final time in 2024 and signed off on Marks’ appointment unanimously after an extensive domestic and international search.

ABC chairman Kim Williams has been outspoken in his praise and criticism of the ABC in the nine months since his appointment and stressed the need to refresh the public broadcaster’s output.

Marks said on Tuesday that he and Williams have had clear discussions on how to best deliver on that vision.

While he would not be drawn on the finer details, the pair are “certainly very aligned on what each of our responsibilities will be”, Marks said.

“I love working with people that are passionate about institutions like the ABC. It’s so important, and we’re also both very driven to make sure that we actually get on and get things done.”

Williams on Tuesday hailed Marks’ appointment and said he brought a “rare breadth of experience” across content production and programming, having also worked in television, radio and online publishing.

“Hugh is unusually well qualified to lead the ABC’s editorial and creative production teams online and in audio and video across the spectrum of ABC delivery responsibility in news, children’s education, documentary, international and diverse drama for Australian citizens as viewers, listeners and readers across every major delivery platform available,” Williams said.

He said Marks’ record in leading media organisations and driving substantial and sustained audience engagement made him the stand-out candidate and the right person to lead the ABC.

However, the majority of criticism the ABC draws stems from its editorial output, an area where Marks’ experience is thinner, according to former colleagues who have spoken to this masthead.

Privately, some ABC staff have questioned the executive profile at the ABC, while Anderson, the day after his resignation, urged the broadcaster to improve its record on women in leadership roles.

The ABC has only ever had one female managing director, Michelle Guthrie, who was sacked after two years. The ABC currently has men leading its three key divisions, News, Content and Audio, while the chair and current and future MD are also men.

Marks said he was looking forward to making the hard decisions as the editor-in-chief, which will include approving hard-hitting investigations and episodes on Four Corners and tackling the inevitable backlash they attract.

“I welcome that. That’s really energising ... I’ll be holding everyone to account to make sure that the work of the ABC is as excellent and as good as it can possibly be, and no one should expect anything else from me,” he said.

A former lawyer, Marks has an extensive history on the content side of Australia’s media industry. He is also a former chief executive at television studio Endemol, then known as Southern Star, which was also once run by Williams. After leaving Nine, Marks returned to the content industry by founding his own studio, Dreamchaser, alongside fellow executive Carl Fennessy.

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