ABC chief content officer Chris Oliver-Taylor will step down from his position next month, less than two years after joining the broadcaster from Netflix ANZ.
As the ABC’s inaugural chief content officer, he led screen, audio, and digital platforms, following the merger of the ABC’s entertainment and specialist and regional and local divisions.
Titles commissioned during his tenure included The Assembly, The Family Next Door, Return to Paradise, Austin, Guy Mont’s Spelling Bee, Bluey’s Big Play, and I Was Actually There. According to the ABC, he was responsible for delivering over 20 per cent growth in weekly users on ABC iview.
His time at the broadcaster was not without controversy, with Oliver-Taylor among those involved in the dismissal of newsreader Antoinette Lattouf from a short-term contract in December 2023.
The ABC has since attempted to settle the matter out of court by reasoning that Lattouf had been paid out the full five days of her contract and therefore was not sacked. However, the Fair Work Commission ruled in July that the newsreader had been terminated as a result of a social media post, allowing Lattouf to pursue an unfair dismissal claim in the Federal Court.
Oliver-Taylor’s departure follows that of former chair Ita Buttrose, who advised the government she would not be seeking reappointment in August last year and has since been succeeded by Kim Williams, and managing director David Anderson, who will make way for former Nine CEO Hugh Marks in March.
Following the elevation of ABC Audio in late 2024, the ABC will discontinue the chief content officer role.
In a message to his ABC colleagues, the outgoing executive said the “difficult” decision to leave had come following discussions with the ABC board and chair across “many months”.
“With a new MD, a renewed board, and what I think is a very positive and hopeful future, the ABC is in great shape to continue its vital role as the pre-eminent public broadcaster in Australia,” Oliver-Taylor said.
“There is sadness in this decision but also pride and excitement with the slate that will roll out across 2025 and in future years.
“The ABC is a vital cultural institution that will continue to deliver world-class content. I will always be a strong supporter of the ABC and public broadcasting and am deeply grateful for my time here, as well as the dedication of my ABC colleagues and the production companies that contribute to its success.”
Anderson said Oliver-Taylor had been “outstanding in his creative approach to supporting our content teams and delivering valued programs”.
“He took on a very challenging role, one that required someone with his experience and ability, and led our content teams through this period of change and growth,” he said.
“The ABC thanks him and wishes him well for the next stage of his career.”
Oliver-Taylor’s final day at the ABC will be February 28, with ABC Head Screen Content Jennifer Collins to step into the role of director of content from today.