Former Nine boss Mike Sneesby has revealed he is heading to the US for professional ‘talks’ after a scandal-plagued year at the embattled network.
He resigned as chief executive of Nine Entertainment in September ahead of a scathing report into the network’s workplace culture, sparked by sexual harassment allegations against his former head of news and current affairs, Darren Wick.
Since then, Sneesby has enjoyed some much-needed rest and quality time with his family, including a road trip with his son to Byron Bay in northern New South Wales.
He and wife Ursula mingled with VIP guests as they celebrated Melbourne Cup Day at Royal Randwick on Tuesday, where he spoke about his family’s upcoming move to the US.
“I’ve been spending a little time with my son camping and fishing, which was my top priority the last few weeks,” he told Daily Telegraph.
‘Tomorrow (Wednesday) I’m going to the United States and I’ll spend a few weeks there talking to people in my network.
“My family will join me at the end of November.”
Nine’s management team, including Sneesby, have been under intense fire over the broadcaster’s handling of the allegations against Wick and the slowness to remove him following several complaints. Wick ultimately left the company in March.
Former Nine boss Mike Sneesby (pictured with wife Ursula) will travel to the US on Wednesday for “talks” about his career. His family will join him 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 resign as president in June after a journalist claimed the former federal treasurer had shoved him at Canberra airport while questioning him about Sneesby’s reaction to Wick’s allegations.
Sneesby came under fire in early July after he went on holiday abroad on the same day hundreds of Nine staff were told they would lose their jobs as a cost-cutting measure.
He flew to Greece with his family for a week’s holiday after 200 jobs were cut across the media company.
A Nine source said the trip to Greece was comparable to former Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s infamous decision to take his family on holiday to Hawaii during the devastating Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20.
Nine’s management team, including Mike Sneesby (pictured), faced criticism for their handling of sexual harassment allegations against their former head of news and current affairs.
The company culture review was conducted on October 17 and found ‘a systemic problem of abuse of power and authority; Bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment.”
The research included interviews with former and current employees, and a company-wide survey.
The results alleged that 52 percent of staff experienced or witnessed abuse of power, 49 percent experienced bullying, discrimination or harassment, and 24 percent experienced sexual harassment.
Nine’s annual results, delivered in September, reported a 31 per cent drop in profits and a three per cent drop in revenue.
Executive bonuses were reduced because the company did not meet its EBITDA target of $533 million, set by the board.