Nine has appointed Matthew Stanton as Chief Executive Officer after serving as acting CEO since late last year.
His appointment follows a turbulent period, including the resignation of former CEO Mike Sneesby after a staff no-confidence motion against him and the board.
Stanton was initially brought in on an interim basis while Nine searched for a permanent replacement. The company has now decided to keep him in the role.
Before joining Nine as Chief Strategy Officer in 2022, Stanton held executive positions at Barambah Organics, Woolworths, and Bauer Media (now Are Media). He has been acting CEO since October 2024.
Nine Chair Catherine West said the board appointed Stanton following a thorough recruitment process.
“Matt’s mix of strategic and commercial acumen, transformation and media experience, strong values, and an open and collaborative approach to leadership, make him the right person to lead Nine,” she said.
“After developing the Group strategy, Matt has a deep understanding of Nine, our priorities, culture and people and has earned the respect of the senior leadership, the broader workforce, the market and the Board.”
Stanton said he looks forward to leading Nine through its next phase, emphasising the company’s people and future growth.
“Nine is a great Australian company that plays a vital role in the national conversation. We have an exciting future, underpinned by the best people and assets in the media sector. We have moved at pace in recent months to strengthen the Group, and I’ve been buoyed by the buy-in from people across the company as we progress our ambitious plans to reset and grow the business,” he said.
“I am committed to continuing to reform and strengthen Nine in the interests of all shareholders and our people.”
Former CEO Mike Sneesby, who previously led Stan, addressed his departure in a personal note to staff last September.
“This year has been one of the most challenging in my career – one where our resilience has been tested,” he wrote. “Despite the intensity of the scrutiny, my focus has not wavered from achieving the best outcomes for our people and for Nine.”