SBS Chair George Savvides AM will conclude his time with the broadcaster as his second term on the Board comes to an end.
Savvides, who joined the SBS Board in 2017 and became Chair in 2020, will step down following a period marked by significant strategic and operational shifts at the public broadcaster.
His departure comes as SBS marks its 50th year of service to Australian audiences, and as the broadcaster continues to expand its digital, multicultural, and First Nations media footprint across the country.
Focus on transformation and trust
During Savvides’ tenure, SBS underwent a wide-ranging digital transformation that has seen the network grow its reach across streaming, podcasting, and multilingual platforms.
Under his chairmanship, SBS was consistently ranked among Australia’s most trusted news organisations and was recognised as Podcast Publisher of the Year for three consecutive years.
Other key milestones under Savvides’ leadership included SBS’s COVID-19 public information response, the launch of its Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan, and the start of its Western Sydney expansion.
In the context of growing challenges for traditional media, Savvides was also an advocate for SBS’s role in supporting inclusion and belonging through content designed for contemporary Australia.
Looking ahead
SBS Managing Director James Taylor acknowledged Savvides’ contribution, stating he had helped shape SBS not only as a broadcaster, but as an institution grounded in trust and social impact. “He’s been a fierce advocate for SBS’s independence and public value,” Taylor said.
Savvides said he leaves confident in SBS’s trajectory. “As I prepare to depart the role of a lifetime, I’m proud that SBS continues to go from strength to strength, delivering essential services to all Australians with a strong focus on building respect, understanding and cohesion to deliver better social and economic outcomes for all the communities we serve,” he said.
Savvides continued: “SBS is a public institution that enjoys deep levels of trust among our audiences in an age of misinformation and polarisation. It continues to be an exemplar, offering a seat at the table to all Australians in every language, from every background, across a diverse range of experiences. The story of SBS is, and always has been, the story of Australia.”
Christine Zeitz, current SBS Deputy Chair, will step in as Acting Chair until a permanent appointment is made by the Federal Government.