Michelle Guthrie (born 1965) is an Australian business executive and lawyer.

Michelle Guthrie
Born1965
EducationLaw degree
University of Sydney
Alma materUniversity of Sydney
Occupation(s)former Managing Director, ABC
Lawyer
EmployerABC - 2015-2018
Michelle Guthrie (centre) speaking at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Davos 2007.

Guthrie was born in Sydney in 1965, was educated at Brigidine College Randwick and Kambala Girls' School,[1] and studied arts and law at the University of Sydney. She joined the law firm Allen, Allen & Hemsley as a media and technology lawyer in Sydney and Singapore, then moved to London as a corporate counsel for News International. She remained with the News Corporation group of companies for thirteen years, returning to Australia for an 18-month stint as director of legal and business development for Foxtel, then to Hong Kong to replace James Murdoch as the CEO of STAR TV. In 2007, she became managing director of Providence Equity Partners in Hong Kong. In 2011, she joined Google as managing director of partner business solutions, and later was managing director for agencies for the Asia-Pacific region, based in the company's Singapore office.[2]

In December 2015, it was announced that Guthrie would become managing director of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), replacing Mark Scott who retired in April 2016.[3] Guthrie assumed the ABC position on 2 May 2016.[4] She has been criticised for her lack of understanding of public broadcasting[5] and journalism.[6]

On 24 September 2018, ABC Chair Justin Milne announced that Guthrie had been sacked from the role of managing director of the ABC after the board of directors had concluded it was not in the best interests of the organisation for her to continue.[7] After her dismissal, Guthrie took legal action against the ABC for unfair dismissal, represented by Johnson Winter Slattery.[8][9] In March 2019, Guthrie and the ABC reached a settlement on the matter,[10] with Guthrie receiving $730,000 to drop the legal action.[11]

Guthrie is married to Darren Farr, a chef and restaurateur who runs The LoKal restaurant in Singapore, and has two daughters.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Lehmann, Megan. "Michelle Guthrie: 'We can do better.'". Weekend Australian Magazine. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  2. ^ Knott, Matthew (15 December 2015). "Michelle Guthrie: ABC's preferred new boss 'not afraid of failure'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  3. ^ "Michelle Guthrie to replace Mark Scott as ABC managing director". ABC News. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  4. ^ Mitchell, Jake (2 May 2016). "ABC needs more diversity, new boss Michelle Guthrie says". The Australian. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  5. ^ Meade, Amanda (9 December 2016). "'She doesn't get what we do': has ABC boss Michelle Guthrie got the insiders on her side?". The Guardian Australia. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  6. ^ Ackland, Richard (14 December 2016). "Michelle Guthrie, the ABC and the turning of a once-shining jewel into mainstream sludge". The Guardian.
  7. ^ "Michelle Guthrie departs from role as Managing Director of the ABC". ABC News. 24 September 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  8. ^ Meade, Amanda (18 October 2018). "Michelle Guthrie to sue ABC for unfair dismissal". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  9. ^ Kozio, Michael; Duke, Jennifer; Loussikian, Kylar (24 September 2018). "Shock sacking of ABC boss Michelle Guthrie could cost taxpayers millions". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  10. ^ Henriques-Gomes, Luke (March 2019). "ABC and Michelle Guthrie reach settlement over unfair dismissal claim". The Guardian.
  11. ^ "ABC paid Michelle Guthrie $1.64m after she was sacked as managing director". the Guardian. 6 March 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
Media offices
Preceded by Managing Director of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
2016–2018
Succeeded by