ABC’s new managing director Hugh Marks says turmoil at Nine Entertainment makes him a ‘better leader’

Newly appointed ABC managing director, Hugh Marks, thinks Nine Entertainment’s annus horribilis will make him a “better leader”.

He also says he does not regret quitting Nine in 2020, after he began a relationship with a colleague.

Marks, whom the ABC board elected unanimously to replace David Anderson for a five-year term, stayed as Nine’s chief executive until 2021. In his time there he oversaw the $4bn merger with Fairfax Media and the Macquarie Media radio network.

In October this year, Nine released a report describing issues with bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment.

In November, the acting chief executive, Matt Stanton, said “there will be change at Nine and individuals will be held to account”.

There was also a string of high-profile departures including the CEO, Mike Sneesby, who quit after allegations of a toxic culture at the company, and the news and current affairs director, Darren Wick, who left in March after a formal complaint from a staff member.

Asked about the revelations, Marks said he distinguished between the cultural matters and those concerning Wick.

He said he only read reports of allegations against Wick and that those remained a “shock” to him.

On the broader issue, he said he reflected on what he needed to do differently to “ensure that if something like that is occurring that I can become aware of it”.

“I think it’ll make me a better leader, having watched that play out in the media,” he said.

“So that I am more aware of things happening deep within the organisation.”

Nine has also culled 200 jobs and faces cuts of $100m over the next two years.

Anderson resigned from his ABC role in August, 12 months after being reappointed for a second five-year term.

In an email to staff on Tuesday morning, the ABC chair, Kim Williams, described Anderson as a “special individual” and said the ABC was “a better place for his commitment and his leadership”.

“David and Hugh will have an extended handover as determined between them – I don’t need to tell you all how multi-faceted this place is and how much knowledge is needed to be an effective leader of all that makes the ABC so central to Australian thought and life,” he wrote.

Williams said Marks’ engagement with editorial matters, and with government policy, would be “invaluable to the ABC”.

Marks spent nearly three years at film and television content studio Dreamchaser after his time at Nine.

He has also revealed more about his resignation from Nine. He resigned in 2020 but stayed until 2021 while Nine searched for a replacement. Asked about reports he resigned because he was in a relationship with his colleague, Alexi Baker, he said the reports did not force his resignation.

“What happened was Alexi and I decided that was something we had to do,” he said.

“We knew … we would have to leave Nine – as two of the most senior people in the company it was going to be difficult for other executives and the company to be able to deal with that.

“For us, it was the right decision. I stand by that decision and have not regretted it. And it’s been great to continue to explore life with Alexi.”

Marks said office relationships would always be an issue, particularly when senior people were involved, but that “we should be grown up enough as organisations to embrace the fact it does happen” and can be managed with disclosure, the right policies, and “careful management”.

While Williams has described News Corp’s criticism of the ABC as “unbalanced”, Marks said his job will be “to ensure we’re able to stand up to that scrutiny as best as we possibly can”.

“I’m not afraid of the spotlight, and nor should anyone be,” he said.

Williams described Marks as a “high successful media executive” with more than 30 years’ experience who is “unusually well qualified”.

“Hugh was a standout candidate, not only for his experience across every facet of the media, but for his strong track record of leading media organisations and driving substantial and sustained audience engagement. He is the right person to lead the ABC as we plan right now for renewal and investment,” he said.

Marks, who will start in March, said an “overriding principle” would be to “prioritise the things we can do well” and “not do the things just because we can”.

“I don’t think we should be afraid of changing things … if we agree that’s not something we do well,” he said, declining to nominate what that might include.

Asked what is done well, he outlined a range of things including news and current affairs, children’s programs, comedy, and Australian Story. Matt Bevan’s podcast, If You’re Listening, is “fantastic”, he said.

After announcing his resignation last year, Anderson told Radio National there was a “good case” for his replacement to be a woman, pointing out that there has only been one female managing director in the history of the ABC – Michelle Guthrie, who was sacked halfway through her term.

Marks said he was always someone who promoted women, and that he was “obviously” not aware who else was running for the managing director position.

The federal communications minister, Michelle Rowland, congratulated Marks and thanked Anderson for his “dedicated leadership” and legacy.