ABC executive who sacked Antoinette Lattouf departs broadcaster
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Exclusive: Chief content officer Chris Oliver-Taylor’s role was substantially downgraded by Kim Williams. The ABC’s chief content officer, Chris Oliver-Taylor, will leave the ABC after his role was substantially downgraded by the new ABC chair, Kim Williams.
Oliver-Taylor’s tenure was marred by the fallout from his decision to sack the casual Sydney radio presenter Antoinette Lattouf. Lattouf was taken off air three days into a five-day casual contract in December 2023 after she posted on social media about the Israel-Gaza war, which the ABC said was a breach of editorial policy.
The ABC has been trying to settle the Lattouf case out of court after the Fair Work Commission found Lattouf was sacked, paving the way for the journalist to pursue an unlawful termination case. The ABC argued at the commission that Lattouf was not sacked because she was paid for the full five days of her contract.
Oliver-Taylor’s departure, which is expected to be announced this week, follows the resignation of his ally ABC managing director David Anderson, who appointed him to the newly created role less than two years ago. Anderson resigned a year into his second five-year term and will be replaced by the former Nine CEO Hugh Marks in March.
Marks was appointed by Williams last month for a five-year term after an “extensive domestic and international search”. Sign up to get Guardian Australia’s weekly media diary as a free newsletter. Williams described Marks as a “highly successful media executive” with more than 30 years’ experience.
