What's New September 14, 2015

ABC’s Mark Scott steps down

Mark Scott, The ABC’s Managing Director, has announced to staff that he will leave the role in mid-2016 after a decade in the top job.

His note to staff suggested that if they were ‘interested in being the next Managing Director, keep your eye out for an ad in coming months.”

He went on to thank ABC staff and made specific comment of the performance of triplej, saying: ‘Our radio services continue to connect millions of Australians each day with Triple J having its best-ever radio survey ever last month.’

Mark Scott’s full email to staff is below:

Colleagues,

I once answered a question on how I got my job at the ABC by giving the simple, honest answer: I responded to the position advertised in the newspaper.

This note is just to tell you that if you are interested in being the next Managing Director, keep your eye out for an ad in coming months.

Earlier this year I indicated to the Board that I was planning to leave the ABC at the end of my second term which is in the middle of 2016. (I don’t think this will come as a surprise to anyone as I have made no secret of the fact that I think 10 years is a long time to run an organisation, particularly in a sector as dynamic and fast-changing as media.)

To ensure a smooth succession and an effective handover next year, the Board will shortly commence the process to select the next Managing Director. Accordingly, I think now is the appropriate time to confirm to ABC staff my notification to the Board and my timetable for departure.

In the interim, there is lots to be done, with a number of big projects underway. I am particularly focused on our audience strategy, the development of our digital offerings, hitting our budget targets and making the case for tri-funding. I will update you on this work down the track.

Can I add how pleased I am with our commitment to the main priority this year, serving the nation as the independent home of Australian conversations, culture and stories? On television, we have broadcast remarkable dramas, documentaries and comedies. Our radio services continue to connect millions of Australians each day with Triple J having its best-ever radio survey ever last month. In news, we are breaking stories of significance every week; stories with great impact like the 7- Eleven investigation by Four Corners. Our focus on digital is being rewarded with strong and growing audience engagement. Our iview kids app is proving to be enormously popular.

The success of the ABC is due to the passion of its staff and a clear focus on delivering for our audiences everywhere; from the largest cities, to the smallest country towns and those tuning in around the world. That focus will be our continuing priority in the months ahead.

Kind regards,

Mark