The ABC has confirmed that Google's Michelle Guthrie will take over from Mark Scott as managing director.
Guthrie joins from an APAC role at Google, where she was managing director of agencies for the region, after joining the tech company in 2011.
Her move had been rumoured for weeks prior to today's announcement, with the ABC noting that Guthrie will officially join the ABC in April, for a month-long handover with Scott, who departs officially in May next year.
ABC chairman James Spigelman said Guthrie is ideally placed to lead the broadcaster into the digital era.
“Michelle is an exceptional media professional with strong content, operational and board experience within internationally-respected media companies,” Spigelman said.
“She brings to the ABC her business acumen, record in content-making across an array of platforms, a deep understanding of audience needs and corporate responsibility for promoting issues like diversity.”
Guthrie began her career as a media lawyer in Sydney and has worked for several Australian-based media companies including Foxtel, as well as BSkyB and the Asian-based Star television network. In 2007 she was managing director for Providence Equity, an investment firm focused on the media sector.
In her new role, Guthrie will receive a salary package of $900,000.
“Having grown up with the ABC and having been a professional observer of it over the last three decades, I have profound respect for the important role the national broadcaster plays throughout Australia and internationally,” Guthrie said.
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