Nine Network’s managing director of programming and production Andrew Backwell has resigned after 14 years with the company.
Andrew Backwell quits Nine after 14 years
His resignation comes in a year when Nine has struggled in the ratings, with Seven sealing the ratings year win in mid-August, and opening the biggest gap on its closest rival in five years.
Hugh Marks, CEO at Nine Network, said in a statement: “Andrew has been a valued member of Nine’s programming team and a key contributor to ratings growth over his 14 years with the business. I am grateful for his unwavering commitment to Nine and his drive to innovate our business model. I wish him every success for his future endeavours.”
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Commenting on his shock departure, Backwell said: “It has been an absolute privilege to run programming and production at the Nine Network for so long. I’ve also had the opportunity to work with some incredible CEO’s during this period, including David Gyngell, Jeffrey Browne and Hugh Marks, and I sincerely wish the company all the very best.”
Backwell’s departure follows on from Nine’s profits for 2016 tumbling 7% on last year, with the network describing the performance of its core, free-to-air business as “disappointing”.
Michael Healy, director of television, said: “I would like to thank Andrew for his contribution to the programming department over the past decade.”
Backwell will finish with the Network at the end of October and his responsibilities will be assumed by a number of existing Nine executives.