Free TV chairman Harold Mitchell resigns
Free TV chairman, Harold Mitchell, has resigned from his position amid allegations of withholding information from the Tennis Australia board.
It comes after The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) launched federal court action against Mitchell and Steve Healy, alleging they withheld information from the Tennis Australia board when deciding on sports broadcasting rights in 2013.
According to documents filed with the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, it is alleged Mitchell advised the board along with Steve Wood, then CEO of Tennis Australia, that broadcasting rights should remain with Seven, despite their bid being significantly lower than Network Ten.
Today, Free TV CEO Bridget Fair, said it was with “great regret” she announced Mitchell’s resignation.
“Harold’s contributions to the industry cannot be overstated. Over the past five years he has overseen some of the most significant developments in the commercial television sector and delivered superb leadership and advice, for which we are sincerely grateful,” Fair said.
“Harold’s expertise, experience and commitment will be very much missed throughout the organisation. He leaves a lasting and important legacy at Free TV, having significantly changed the industry for the better in his time as Chairman.
“Speaking personally, I am very sorry to be losing Harold, who has been an outstanding chairman for Free TV. It has been a great privilege to have the opportunity to work with and learn from a business leader of his calibre with such a deep understanding of commercial television and the wider industry landscape. He has been generous with his knowledge, his energy and his time in furthering the interests of Free TV broadcasters and leaves us very well placed for the future.”
Mitchell was once the most significant players in Australia’s media agency world, first setting up independent media agency Mitchell Communication Group in 1976. Mitchell Communication Group was later sold to Aegis Media, making Mitchell one of the global group’s biggest individual shareholders. Dentsu bought Aegis in 2013, establishing the Dentsu Aegis Network. Mitchell stepped down from the media agency group in June 2013.
Today, Mitchell said he was “forced to make the decision”, following “false accusations” by ASIC. He said he will “vigorously defend” himself in court.
“I am proud of my achievements in my five years with Free TV when we achieved a repeal of the media ownership laws, the scrapping of commercial television licence fees and maintenance of the anti-siphoning list,” he added.
“I wish Free TV and its members all the best in the future.”
Mitchell retired from the Tennis Australia board late last month.
The full announcement:
Free TV Australia was advised this morning that Mr Harold Mitchell AC had decided to resign from his position as Chairman.
Free TV CEO, Bridget Fair, said: “It is with great regret that Free TV announces that Mr Harold Mitchell AC has taken the decision to resign as Chairman of Free TV. Harold’s contributions to the industry cannot be overstated. Over the past five years he has overseen some of the most significant developments in the commercial television sector and delivered superb leadership and advice, for which we are sincerely grateful.
“Harold’s expertise, experience and commitment will be very much missed throughout the organisation. He leaves a lasting and important legacy at Free TV, having significantly changed the industry for the better in his time as Chairman.
“Speaking personally, I am very sorry to be losing Harold, who has been an outstanding Chairman for Free TV. It has been a great privilege to have the opportunity to work with and learn from a business leader of his calibre with such a deep understanding of commercial television and the wider industry landscape. He has been generous with his knowledge, his energy and his time in furthering the interests of Free TV broadcasters and leaves us very well placed for the future,” added Ms Fair.
One of Australia’s most successful and well-regarded media executives, Mr Mitchell was the founder of Mitchell & Partners and executive chairman of Aegis Media Asia Pacific. He also founded the Harold Mitchell Foundation and is a major contributor to Australian public life. Mr Mitchell was appointed Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent service to the community through leadership and philanthropic endeavours in the fields of art, health and education, and as a supporter of humanitarian aid in Timor-Leste and the indigenous community.
Some of the key issues in which Mr Mitchell has played a key role during his tenure as Chairman include the historic repeal of the media ownership laws, the removal of commercial television licence fees, the transition to digital only television, defeating the proposal to increase SBS advertising time limits and maintaining the anti-siphoning list.
Ms Fair concluded: “Harold will be sorely missed by Free TV and the commercial television industry. We thank him for his outstanding service to the industry and we wish him well.”
Harold Mitchell has been such an incredible figure in our media landscape. He has also worked on so many other areas such as helping trade in Asia and charitable work in Timor Leste. As a woman in tech and media, he has also been incredibly supportive to me personally. I have nothing but admiration for him.
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Yes, it appears he has been very generous with his time in furthering the interests of broadcast TV.
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… this is unsurprising ..when i first became seriously involved in client-side media buying 9 years ago, I read Harold’s autobiography….the one in which he himself openly admits to acting primarily in the interests of a certain television network rather than in the interests of the advertisers who were buying slots…coming from a non-advertising background, i was shocked about this practice and its very public confession …..hence to see such an (unproven) allegation by ASIC is not surprising to me, nor should it be to any reader of HM’s very own words….
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Mitchell is the consummate advertising man, and a master of marketing and promotion. He is a powerbroker extrordinaire and knows well how to leverage his business and personal assets to the benefit of others and himself.
The amazing success of his media businesses in leading the country’s media agencies against all comers including the global corporates for 10 years or more is a testiment to his remarkable skills.
But this business is tough, to win so consistently you simply cannot be lily white.
His reputation and the plaudits of industry players are one thing but the facts in this matter are another and should be thoroughly investigated in depth.
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