Hugh Marks: ABC appoints former Nine Entertainment chief executive as managing director of public broadcaster
Former Nine Entertainment chief executive Hugh Marks has been appointed managing director of the ABC.
The public broadcaster confirmed the appointment on Tuesday, with ABC chair Kim Williams saying Mr Marks was ‘an unusually good fit”.
Mr Marks took on the chief executive role at Nine Entertainment in 2015, following David Gyngell’s departure, and resigned in 2020.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The new managing director, replacing David Anderson, will be tasked with tackling ABC’s digital transformation and declining audience numbers across TV and radio.
Speaking to his appointment, Mr Marks said it was time for “making choices” and that the broadcaster needed to “prioritise” things it could “do well”.
“All Australians, when they want to know the truth, or the facts, or at least the different perspectives on an issue so that they’re informed, know that they can come to the ABC and trust that it’s that place that they’re going to get (that),” Mr Marks told the ABC.
“Just because it’s possible, doesn’t mean you should do it.
“Focusing on those things and making choices to prioritise on the things that you can do well, I think, is a discussion we’re all going to have to have.”
In 2018, Mr Marks oversaw the deal with Fairfax Media’s chief executive Greg Hywood that merged Nine’s assets with Fairfax Media’s, including radio stations, papers and streaming platform Stan.
The ABC undertook an international search for Mr Anderson’s replacement, with Mr Williams describing Mr Marks as “a stand-out candidate”.
Mr Marks departed Nine Entertainment in 2020, announcing the shock news via an email to staff.
“I have decided the time is right for me begin the process of moving on,” he said.
A reason for the sudden departure was not included in the weekend email to staff.
Mr Mark’s departure followed that of his partner, former Nine Entertainment commercial director Alexi Baker, who left the company about a month earlier.
Mr Marks, who has been given a five-year term under the conditions of the ABC Act, starts his new role in March 2024.
