Nine comms boss Victoria Buchan made redundant as network searches for ‘a much-needed regulatory specialist lead’
Nine Entertainment has made its director of communications and PR, Victoria Buchan, redundant.
Acting CEO Matt Stanton announced the news in an all-staff email sent on Monday seen by Mumbrella.
“Today Vic and I have agreed terms for her to leave the business as we go about restructuring the corporate roles to create a much-needed regulatory specialist lead for the business,” he wrote.
“Since joining us nearly 15 years ago, Vic has made a significant contribution at all the key points of Nine’s evolution into Australia’s media company. From working alongside David Gyngell as they restructured from private equity, side-by-side with Hugh Marks and the team through the successful merger with Fairfax and more recently with Mike, Vic has launched countless TV and radio shows, worked on landmark legal cases and some of Australia’s biggest events and provided communications support for the executive team, talent and programs however and whenever it was needed.
“Vic will be around to support the restructure of the team before she formally finishes up at the end of November. I’m sure we’ll all want to acknowledge her contribution in our own way.”
Buchan also confirmed the news, writing in a separate note: “While this year has been more challenging than most, I’ve enjoyed the ride since joining Nine back in 2010.
“We’ve come a long way since those days. I’m looking forward to some family time over the summer and then getting stuck back into some projects or opportunities to work in the industry I love and know so well.
“As you know, my work has been a passion for me, and that’s not going to change.
“I will continue to watch, read and listen to all you do and be cheering from the sideline. I can’t wait to reboot and look for great projects and most importantly, great people to work with. It’s been a privilege.”
The news comes after Mike Sneesby left Nine as its CEO last month, while workplace culture firm, Intersection, is expected to release its report looking into Nine’s workplace and culture this month.
Appearing on a recent episode of Mumbrella’s one-on-one podcast series, Michael Stephenson, Nine’s chief sales officer, said his team is “focused” despite the allegations that have rocked the media giant in recent months.
“… we’re focused on the main game,” he said.
“The other stuff will happen around the edges, of course. That’s life, but we’re very clear on what our plan is.
“We don’t jump left. We don’t jump right. We’re just focused on the plan and executing. And if we do that, that’ll be us doing our part. And I think that’s what business is about.”
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Nathan Jolly is the Features Editor at Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.
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This is a really dumb move by Nine. No one knows media, press and talent like Vic.
This will hurt us in both the short and long term!!
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Nobody that’s been there less than 2 years will be there next year at this rate.
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They don’t need a publicist. They need someone who can lobby Government,
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Does a country, with a population of 25 million that is concentrated in 6 main metro’s, require 5 old school television broadcasters? Does it require 3 X old school highly commercial / tabloid style broadcasters? Times have changed, my kids watch YouTube!? My kids will want to watch the Socceroos and Matildas and Australian Open games on YouTube. Sporting associations will surely start waking up to this fact. To reach a total as possible Australian Audience it is broadcasting suicide to give just one of these legacy broadcasters your rights for a season / world cup / tournament. We need multi broadcasters and surely associations could make more money and viewers could pay less (as it will be included on an existing sub)? Or you pay a small amount and away you go; pay to play.
Aren’t most of the commercial media outlets just blackmail businesses? Doing hit jobs if people talk out of line and parcel it up as news?
So many questions!?
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