AFR severs Joe Aston’s Rampart after James Chessell resigns

The Australian Financial Review has ended its relationship with Joe Aston’s Rampart, despite previous commitments of support.

The Australian reports that Nine publishing head Tory Maguire made the decision following the resignation of Financial Review editor-in-chief James Chessell so he can join Aston at Rampart.

Until now, Nine had agreed to publish Aston’s monthly column, and provide legal support to Rampart, but that arrangement has now reportedly ceased.

Chessell was expected to remain at Nine until new editor Cosima Marriner commencement on October 12.

However, Chessell announced his early departure last Wednesday.

 

 

 

 

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James Chessell moves to Rampart

Chessell will head Rampart's editorial team, write a regular column and co-host a new weekly news vodcast with Aston, which is due to launch in early 2027.

Rampart announced in Ausgust it had raised $2.3 million in investor funding and hired several full-time journalists.

Chessell became the AFR’s editor-in-chief in 2024. He previously served as Nine’s managing director of publishing and held senior editorial roles at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. He and Aston have worked together at the AFR and in the office of former Liberal minister Joe Hockey.

Marriner, who will become the first woman to permanently lead the AFR, joined the masthead as managing editor in 2022 before becoming editor in 2024.

Marriner's previous roles include deputy editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and editor of The Sun-Herald.