Justin Stevens has resigned as director of news at the ABC, and his replacement will be announced on Friday 29 May.

In an exclusive leak, Guardian Australia revealed that his replacement will be Simon Robinson from Reuters.

According to The Guardian, “at Senate estimates on Thursday (28 May), the managing director of the ABC, Hugh Marks, refused to confirm or deny that he threatened to terminate Stevens if he didn’t resign. Instead Marks revealed that he held a meeting with Stevens about a very serious matter.”

Marks told Estimates that he had been scouting informally for a news director for the past six months knowing Stevens “was potentially leaving”. He said the new appointment would be an opportunity to “refresh and rejuvenate” the ABC.

He confirmed the incoming news director had been chosen through a hiring process run by an external provider.

We wish Justin well in the next phase of his career and look forward to meeting the new director soon.

Who is Simon Robinson?

A graduate in mass communications from Macquarie University, Simon Robinson is executive editor and global managing editor, News Publishing at Reuters. 

As deputy to the editor-in-chief, he describes his role as helping ‘lead the Reuters newsroom of 2,600 people, oversee digital and publishing assets, shape Reuters editorial vision for digital and work with audience, product, tech and sales colleagues. Focused on driving revenue in both consumer and professional markets through our website, newsletters, podcasts, events and more.’

He has worked at Reuters in a variety of roles for 16 years and before that worked at Time as a reporter, correspondent, bureau chief and editor.

Robinson has also been involved with a number of external organisations including as a member of the steering committee for the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, an impressive institute at Oxford University dedicated to exploring the future of journalism worldwide through debate, engagement, and research.