Via Domainfax:
ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie has been sacked by the board after just two years and four months in the job.
“The decision follows discussions over several months that concluded when directors resolved that it was not in the best interests of the ABC for Ms Guthrie to continue to lead the organisation,” the statement said.
The Australian described tensions this morning:
The Australian spoke to a number of current and former ABC and industry executives who requested anonymity. Some regard Ms Guthrie as lacking some skills needed to run the national broadcaster and not being an effective lobbyist in Canberra, while others say Mr Milne was too close to former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and criticised him for lobbying politicians in Canberra directly and dealing directly with ABC executives.
One ABC executive said the relationship between the pair was known to be “frosty”.
The Australian has been told flashpoints include two key initiatives of the chairman, the ABC Annual Public Meeting, held in February, and July’s announcement of Project Jetstream, a multimillion-dollar idea designed to provide a digital infrastructure base for the ABC decades into the future when broadcast television shuts down. Both Mr Milne and Ms Guthrie declined to comment on specific questions about both these instances.
Dunno is there is more to it. Everyone I know at Auntie has their phone off. Yawn.
