Nine’s Sydney news boss is leaving the business, making him the second major city news director to leave the company just weeks after the findings of a comprehensive review of the culture at the media conglomerate were made public.

Simon Hobbs, who has overseen Nine’s Sydney newsroom for 12 years, will leave on Friday. Hobbs’ deputy, Margie McLew, has assumed his role and responsibilities on an interim basis, effective immediately.

The news comes just days after Nine’s top Queensland news executive, Amanda Paterson, also left the business.

In separate emails to staff, Nine’s director of news, Fiona Dear, provided no explanation for either executive’s departure. Both exits follow last month’s publication of the bombshell review of Nine’s workplace culture, sparked by the departure of Dear’s predecessor, Darren Wick, this year. Wick was subject to historical complaints relating to his drunken and lecherous behaviour towards colleagues.

While this masthead does not suggest that Hobbs or Paterson’s departures are related directly to the review’s findings or subsequent complaints filed in relation to the review, they are the first major exits from Nine’s news and current affairs division since it revealed a culture of widespread bullying, abuses of power and sexual harassment.

The report found that 62 per cent of Nine’s broadcast employees had experienced or witnessed abuse of power or authority, while 57 per cent had suffered bullying, discrimination or harassment.

Nine, owner of this masthead, is recruiting for news directors in three of its main markets, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, where Gareth Parker has been promoted within the company.

Dear told staff on Wednesday that Melbourne news director Hugh Nailon will take on additional responsibilities in the interim, including “overseeing and supporting the state news directors and the network desk”.