Nine CEO touches down as scandal over former exec intensifies
Mike Sneesby has returned to Australia on the heels of a week of scandal for the company capped off by fresh allegations against former executive Darren Wick published in the pages of one of its own newspapers.
Nine Entertainment chief executive Mike Sneesby has cut short an overseas holiday and returned to Australia amid an escalating company crisis involving allegations against a former senior executive that has sparked tensions at board level.
The Peter Costello-chaired board of the nation's largest domestic media company is expected to convene as soon as this week for a meeting where the company's handling of the scandal will likely be discussed.
Nine has been rocked by a series of media reports over the past week detailing allegations of inappropriate behaviour against its former head of news Darren Wick. The stories initially surfaced in News Corp outlets including Sky News, The Daily Telegraph and The Australian. But significantly, over the weekend the Sydney Morning Herald, which is owned by Nine, ran a front page story by star investigative journalist Kate McClymont containing fresh details and allegations.
The original stories revealed Wick had been the subject of a complaint over inappropriate behaviour and a subsequent investigation conducted by an external law firm. The investigation did not make any findings against Wick, whose resignation was announced to staff late on the Friday of 15 March following an extended period of leave early this year.
