Peter Costello resigns as chairman of Nine Entertainment ‘effective immediately’

Peter Costello has resigned as chairman of Nine Entertainment “effective immediately”.

Costello said in a statement on Sunday evening: “I thank the board for their support over the last decade and particularly during the events of the last few weeks. I wish the board, the employees and the company well.”

Costello, the former federal treasurer, was last week accused of assaulting a journalist from the Australian newspaper as he refused to answer questions about the embattled media company at Canberra airport.

Costello dismissed the allegations saying “there was no assault” and that the journalist, Liam Mendes, “fell over an advertising placard”.

Costello was approached at the airport by Mendes on Thursday. The journalist began asking questions about Nine’s response to allegations of sexual harassment and bullying at the company.

A Nine spokesperson last week denied the company’s chairman struck the journalist.

“After arriving at Canberra airport, the chairman [Costello] was confronted by a journalist from the Australian. In the course of filming the chairman while walking backwards, the journalist collided with an advertising placard and fell,” the spokesperson said at the time.

“At no point did the chairman strike the journalist.”

Catherine West has been appointed the new chair of Nine, the company said in a statement on Sunday evening.

“Last year the board engaged a search firm to identify potential new directors as part of renewal and succession plans. The board’s nominations committee will take this process forward.

“The board wishes to thank Mr Costello for his contribution to Nine over more than a decade including eight years as chairman. Mr Costello played a key role in Nine milestones such as its successful re-listing on the Australian Stock Exchange in 2013, securing the landmark News Media Bargaining Code and the transformative merger with Fairfax Media.”