The Age reports that one of the ABC’s most senior HR executives “has resigned after this masthead put questions to the broadcaster about a staff exodus and his decision to take his team out on a private yacht belonging to a scion of the billionaire Snow family last month.”
An official announcement was made via an email sent by chief people officer Deena Amorelli around 4pm on Thursday, confirming that Josh Keech, ABC’s head of employment relations and safety, will vacate his role in a matter of weeks.
According to sources, the email read: “After nearly two years with the ABC, Josh Keech has decided to leave the organisation and his role as Head of Employee Relations & WHS.”
Amorelli added, “I would like to thank Josh for his commitment to the ABC over the past two years. Josh’s last day will be Friday 24 April.”
Mediaweek reached out to the ABC for comment and was told by a spokesperson: “Josh Keech has resigned from his role as Head of Employee Relations & WHS at the ABC.
“There was no cost to the ABC for the use of the boat.”
ABC holds team meeting on yacht
Three sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Age that “Keech took four of his staff out on a private boat owned by Tom Snow, whose family own Canberra airport, on March 31. The trip followed a strategy session in the morning and team lunch.”
Snow apparently allowed use of the yacht for free.
The team meeting was held soon after four of six staff under Keech intentionally resigned or left the team during the ABC’s headline-making pay negotiations which culminated in a 24-hour strike – the first strike in 26 years.
The Age reports that it contacted both Keech and Snow for comment.
Top image: Josh Keech, LinkedIn
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