Embattled Nine Entertainment chairman Peter Costello has resigned suddenly, just days after being involved in an airport altercation with a journalist.
The ASX-listed media group said on Sunday he had quit the Nine board and been succeeded as chair by his deputy Catherine West.
His resignation came after a long meeting of Nine directors on Friday night.
Video taken on Thursday appeared to show Mr Costello shouldering a reporter from The Australian at Canberra Airport as the latter peppered him with questions about the sexual harassment and bullying scandals dogging Nine.
Nine’s announcement of the resignation did not reference the fracas, which was filmed by journalist Liam Mendes. However, it said, “the board recognises action and accountability are required to maintain trust.”
A former federal Treasurer and the chairman of Nine since 2016, Mr Costello denied he had made contact with Mr Mendes, saying the journalist had fallen over an advertising hoarding while walking backwards.
In the statement, he thanked Nine for its support over the past decade, “particularly during the events of the last few weeks”.
Mr Costello and chief executive Mike Sneesby have been under intense pressure over Nine’s handling of the departure of television news boss Darren Wick.
Mr Wick stepped down in March with a payout, but allegations of drunken and lecherous behaviour against female staff at Nine have since emerged.
The Australian Financial Review cited an internal statement shared on Sunday by Mr Sneesby in which Mr Costello said a new chair was needed at Nine “to unite them around a fresh vision and someone with the energy to lead to that vision for the next decade”.
“The new chair will require full support from all directors as this is an industry where there is fierce rivalry. I do not rate the attacks of a commercial rival,” he said.
Ms West, a former lawyer with British broadcaster Sky, thanked Mr Costello for his service while acknowledging that the past few weeks had been “extremely difficult and destabilising”.
“We are committed to ensuring, through our cultural review and other actions announced last week, that issues will be appropriately addressed,” she said.
“We want to ensure our people can feel proud of our company and colleagues and the work they do.”