ABC News boss Kate Torney to leave broadcaster for role at State Library of Victoria
ABC director of news Kate Torney is to leave the public broadcaster to take up the role of CEO of the State Library of Victoria.
Kate Torney speaking at last year’s Mumbrella 360
The ABC announced the surprise move this morning, with the 20-year veteran of the broadcaster being touted by many as a potential replacement for managing director Mark Scott, who is set to step down next year.
“We are very sorry to see Kate leave the ABC,” said James Spigelman, chairman of the ABC. “The board holds her in high regard. She has been a strong leader of the News Division and on her watch she has transformed the services on offer to Australians everywhere.
“As a former chair of the National Library, I am confident that she will make an outstanding contribution to the public services delivered by Australia’s library community.”
Torney was one of Australia’s most senior female news executives leading a division with more than 1,400 staff having led the news division at ABC for the last six years.
In a statement Mark Scott said that Torney “has been a passionate and inspiring leader of the News division in a time of remarkable change”.
“What she has achieved with the News team over the past six years is extraordinary,” he said. “The process of gathering and distributing news has been transformed.
“Kate’s era has also seen a commitment to strong, robust reporting and journalism that has repeatedly won the highest accolades in the industry.”
Torney has been in the role since 2009 and led the ABC news division through a number of controversies including the impact of last year’s funding cuts and criticism of some reporting such as the asylum seekers who last year claimed that the Australian Navy set fire to their boat. The ABC later acknowledged mistakes in that report.
Since being appointed director of news in 2009 Ms Torney has reshaped the ABC’s news gathering and delivery to meet the changing needs of the Australian audience, while maintaining its tradition of delivering world-class current affairs and long-form journalism.
Torney said: “For 20 years I have had the great pleasure of working with the industry’s best and brightest — smart, creative and passionate people who are deeply committed to serving audiences and determined to uphold the journalistic excellence which underpins the ABC’s reputation as the nation’s most trusted news and current affairs service.
“Barely a day has passed where I haven’t recognised what a privilege it is to work in journalism and how proud I am to work at the ABC.
“To Mark Scott, thank you for the support you have offered me over the past six years and for the leadership and vision you have brought to the ABC. It has been an honour to work alongside you.”
ABC head of newsgathering Craig McMurtrie will be acting director of News when Torney leaves until the position is filled permanently when Torney departs in September.
Nic Christensen
Mark Scott’s email to ABC informing them of Torney’s departure:
Colleagues
This morning brings the sad news for the ABC of Kate Torney’s resignation as Director of News. The great news for Kate (and the citizens of Victoria) is that she has been appointed CEO of State Library Victoria, overseeing a major new building program and a digital transformation. It’s a wonderful role and a tribute to her leadership skills and great record of achievement here at the ABC.
We are all going to be very sorry to see Kate go.
Kate has been at the ABC since 1995. Prior to being appointed Director of News in 2009 she was the founding Executive Producer of Insiders and headed the Asia-Pacific News Centre.
She has been a passionate and inspiring leader of the News Division in a time of remarkable change. What she has achieved with the News team over the past six years is extraordinary.
Kate was just the right person to lead the creation of ABC News 24. It was a task she undertook shortly after being appointed Director and five years later the results are plain for all to see: A dynamic 24-hour news service, watched by more than 4 million people every week.
As the team in News knows, Kate has been tireless in driving the delivery of digital services, with ABC News rising to be the nation’s No 3 online site in the current events and global news category and the No 1 news brand on the major social media platforms.
To deliver this continuous stream of quality content across all platforms, the process of gathering and distributing news has been transformed. News staff today are using skills and technology to deliver content in ways not even imagined before Kate started in the role. ABC News is now available to Australians any time and any place, on broadcast, online, mobile and social platforms.
Kate’s era has also seen a commitment to strong, robust reporting and journalism that has repeatedly won the highest accolades in the industry. The most recent Newspoll research demonstrated the great trust and respect for ABC news and current affairs held by Australians everywhere.
As a member of the ABC Executive, Kate has been tireless in her pursuit of what is best for the ABC, and has always kept the needs of audiences clearly in our focus. She is a big strategic thinker and has always been ambitious in what we should try to achieve at the national broadcaster.
I have greatly valued her commitment to audiences and quality news services, her passion for the ABC and public broadcasting and her wise counsel and insights.
People in News, and many elsewhere in the organisation, will testify to Kate’s warmth and compassion, her generosity as a mentor and her kindness to all in need.
James Spigelman, the ABC Chairman, has said today that “we are very sorry to see Kate leave the ABC. The Board holds her in high regard. She has been a strong leader of the News Division and on her watch she has transformed the services on offer to Australians everywhere. As a former Chair of the National Library I am confident that she will make an outstanding contribution to the public services delivered by Australia’s library community.”
Kate will be with us at the ABC for the next eight weeks, so there will be plenty of time to say thanks and farewell properly.
I have asked Craig McMurtrie to act as Director of News when Kate leaves us as we advertise to fill the position permanently. As you know, Craig is a widely-respected leader in the News Division and will do a terrific job. I know he will rely on the great experience in the News Executive as we go through this important transition.
Congratulations again Kate on the exciting new role – and thanks for all you have achieved here at the ABC.
Mark Scott
Kate was a powerhouse and great leader and will be sorely missed…congrats on the CEO appointment at State Library of Victoria and your continued contribution to public services & the arts
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Lets hope she is replaced by a woman.
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Surely there is some way that Murdoch can get an IPA ring-in into the job?
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Either Mark Scott is not quitting or Torney has figured out that insiders won’t be considered. That’s a shame either way.
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Interesting transition, wonder how she will lift profile of a Library
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Anne, let’s hope she is replaced by the best person possible. That is far more important than what sex they are.
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Thank you Lindsay – exactly.
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