The U-turn is the latest change at the ABC since Williams joined the broadcaster in March. Williams has placed an emphasis on ABC’s radio output, particularly Radio National, undertaking a review of the station’s operations.

He has also reversed a strategy to position podcasting at the centre of the ABC’s audio unit, adding that radio content had suffered from internal neglect. Williams recently voiced his preference for ABC’s online news content to focus on hard news instead of lifestyle stories. The public broadcaster returned to the top of Ipsos’ news website rankings, dethroning news.com.au, this month.

Latimer, a former commercial radio executive at Nova, joined the ABC in late 2023. He came onboard following an extensive, board-approved review into the ABC’s capital city stations, which have suffered from a prolonged decline in audience since the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, several of the key local stations have hit historically low audience shares. Both ABC Melbourne and Sydney delivered their lowest ever survey audiences in 2024. Radio National audiences are also down significantly, with Breakfast audiences less than half their reach of three years ago.

Anderson, who will leave the ABC in early 2025, said Latimer and chief content officer Chris Oliver-Taylor had worked hard to put the audio team in a position to stand on its own.

“This is an important change which recognises the significance of audio to our audiences and the role it will play in the future of the ABC,” Anderson’s note concluded.

The ABC is still to make several high-profile appointments, including replacements to Radio National Breakfast host Patricia Karvelas, and Sydney Drive host Richard Glover.

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