ABC Commercial boss exits

Australian pubcaster the ABC is saying goodbye to the director of its commercial wing.

The network today announced Robert Patterson was leaving after more than two decades, having initially joined the ABC Classics music label.

He was appointed director of ABC Commercial in 2012, but now becomes the latest high profile exit since ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie significantly restructured the organisation in March.

Those changes saw Patterson removed from the ABC’s board.

Other major executives such as Richard Finlayson and Mandy Chang have left since former Google exec Guthrie took over with a plan to radically reshape the public service broadcaster.

The ABC credited Patterson with a “dramatic transformation” of ABC Commercial by refocusing on online business. The unit delivered its largest net profit “in several years” and likely to increase that number in 2018.

“In 2012, he was appointed to the role of director of bommercial at a time of rapidly declining revenues for the division as a result of changing consumer behaviours away from traditional revenue drivers of physical products to digital offerings,” said ABC director of television David Anderson.

“Robert successfully led the Division through this challenging period and will leave ABC Commercial in a very strong position.”