Former Nine boss Mike Sneesby has revealed he’s headed to the US for career ‘talks’ following a scandal-riddled year at the embattled network.
He stepped down as Nine Entertainment chief executive in September ahead of a scathing report into the network’s workplace culture, triggered by sexual harassment allegations against its former head of news and current affairs, Darren Wick.
Sneesby has since enjoyed a much-needed break and quality time with his family, including a road trip with his son to Byron Bay in northern NSW.
He and his wife Ursula mingled with VIP guests while celebrating Melbourne Cup Day at Royal Randwick on Tuesday, where he opened up about his family’s upcoming move to the US.
‘I’ve spent a bit of time with my son camping and fishing, which was my highest priority the last couple of weeks,’ he told the Daily Telegraph.
‘Tomorrow (Wednesday) I’m off to the US, spending a few weeks over there just talking to people in my network.
‘My family will join me towards the end of November.’
Nine’s management team, including Sneesby been under heavy fire over the network’s handling of the allegations against Wick and slowness to remove him following several complaints. Wick eventually left the company in March.
Former Nine boss Mike Sneesby (pictured with his wife Ursula) will head to the US on Wednesday for career ‘talks’. He’ll be joined by his family in the coming weeks
Sneesby (pictured with Today host Karl Stefanovic during the 2024 Paris Olympics) left the network in September ahead of an investigation into its workplace culture
Peter Costello was forced to step down as chair in June after a journalist claimed he’d been pushed over at Canberra Airport by the former federal treasurer while quizzing him about Sneesby’s reaction to the Wick allegations.
Sneesby was slammed in early July after he headed off on an overseas holiday on the same day hundreds of Nine employees were told they would lose their jobs in cost-cutting measures.
He flew to Greece with his family for a week-long holiday hours after 200 jobs were axed across the media company.
A Nine insider said the Greek trip was comparable to former prime minister Scott Morrison’s infamous decision take his family on holidays in Hawaii during the devastating 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.
Nine’s management team, including Mike Sneesby (pictured), faced criticism for their handling of sexual harassment allegations against its former head of news and current affairs
The review into the company’s culture was delivered on October 17 and found ‘a systemic issue with abuse of power and authority; bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment’.
The investigation included interviews with past and present employees, and a company-wide survey.
The results alleged 52 per cent of staff experienced or witnessed abuse of power, 49 per cent experienced bullying, discrimination or harassment, and 24 per cent experienced sexual harassment.
Nine’s full-year results, delivered in September, reported a 31 per cent drop in profit and three per cent drop in revenue.
Executive bonuses were cut as the company did not reach its EBITDA target of $533million, set by the board.
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