ABC boss confirms ex-news director in the dark about replacement hunt

ABC's Hugh Marks confirms former news director did not know replacement was being sought Tue 9 Jun 2026 at 2:03pm In short: ABC managing director Hugh Marks has faced questions from Radio National Breakfast show host Sally Sara over the resignation of former news director Justin Stevens. Mr Marks said he and Stevens had a fundamental disagreement over the future of ABC News, and confirmed reports the process to replace Stevens was underway well before he tendered his resignation. What's next? Stevens's replacement, Reuters deputy editor-in-chief Simon Robinson, will begin as news director in September. ABC managing director Hugh Marks has confirmed former news director Justin Stevens was not aware a selection process for his replacement was already underway before he resigned from the ABC late last month. Mr Marks revealed more details about the sudden departure during an interview with Radio National Breakfast host Sally Sara this morning, in which he also addressed the controversy surrounding the hiring of former Australian of the Year Grace Tame to host an ABC podcast series. Asked why the ABC had thought it necessary to seek a new director of news, Mr Marks insisted Stevens's exit was a resignation, but said it had occurred in the context of a fundamental disagreement between the pair over the future of ABC News. The national broadcaster is facing a number of challenges around resourcing live news and exploring different formats, he said, and "maybe we felt there were different directions to pursue". "Mr Stevens certainly wanted to resign, so that's what we agreed was the relevant way for him to go,"he said. Stevens announced his resignation on May 27. His replacement, Reuters deputy editor-in-chief Simon Robinson, was announced the following day. Mr Marks also confirmed media reports that a formal process to find a replacement for Stevens was underway well before the news director tendered his resignation, saying he had engaged a recruitment firm as part of "general sort of succession planning" once he came to believe Stevens's resignation was likely "inevitable". Pressed on whether Stevens had been informed of the process, Mr Marks said the former ABC News boss was unaware the search was taking place. "Sally, I have to go about my role in the way that I see best," he said. "And, you know, sometimes that involves conversations with executives and sometimes it doesn't." In a wide-ranging interview, Mr Marks also addressed rumours sparked by comments he made to ABC finance presenter Alan Kohler that a 40-year-old "legacy television show" on the ABC "may not be the sort of content that we want for the future". Asked whether he had been referring to a specific program — 7.30 turned 40 in January, multiple media outlets have noted — Mr Marks said he had "definitely" been speaking hypothetically. "A better [way of saying it] would have been: 'What got us to where we are today is not necessarily the things that are going to be successful in the future,'" he said. Marks addresses Tame, Pickering controversies The hiring of activist Grace Tame to host an ABC podcast was also raised by Sara during the appearance. Ms Tame was criticised for leading chants of the phrase "globalise the intifada" during a visit to Australia by Israel's president earlier this year. The former Australian of the Year, who has spoken proudly of her support for Palestinian independence, hosts the four-part series Autistic AF on the ABC's podcast platform, going into depth on her experience growing up with undiagnosed autism. Asked whether her previous comments factored into the discussion to hire her for the project, Mr Marks clarified that the decision to hire Ms Tame occurred before those comments were made, but stood by the decision regardless. "Obviously, I understand why people feel Grace shouldn't have a program on the ABC given the controversy … but I think if you look at the program itself, you know, it's a great podcast," he said. "She's done a great job on a topic that I'm sure will be of real interest and real importance to many Australians who suffer from those conditions, and particularly young Australians and young Australian women." Mr Marks said the ABC needed to be able to strike a balance to ensure it brought great content to air, while also "acknowledging that with some people we work with, sometimes there will be controversy". "I've spoken to Grace, and I know what she really abhors is violence of any kind, particularly violence against women and children. And I think everybody can relate to what she really believes in,"he said. Mr Marks also came to the defence of the ABC's Melbourne Drive host Charlie Pickering, who criticised Tame's hiring as "problematic" during an impromptu interview with far-right influencer Avi Yemini. He said Pickering's remarks had been looked at by ABC management, but pointed out the comments had been "a little bit on the hop" and Pickering had made it clear that they were his own view. "I think we felt comfortable that we were able to accept that his comments weren't a breach of the ABC code of conduct," Mr Marks said.