Next month the new Managing Director and Editor in Chief of the ABC will take up his dual position, one of the toughest jobs in Australia.

It supposedly was a wide and long search to replace David Anderson, but there was plenty of speculation about Marks’ appointment last year. It was reasoned that he was the only Australian with experience of successfully running a major media organisation, so the obvious choice.

The ABC is different of course, with constant critical public scrutiny, thousands of opinionated employees, and a potentially hostile political environment. The MD/Editor reports directly to the ABC Board, and his office is where controversies end up.

Hugh Marks takes over as three key leaders of the ABC depart – Ita Buttrose as Chair last year, David Anderson as MD as Marks arrives, and Chris Oliver-Taylor, Head of Content, announcing his resignation last week. As it happens, these three were the key people involved in the Latouff dismissal, which is playing out in the courts at the moment. The arrival of Marks, with new Chair Williams, presents a rare reform opportunity for the ABC.

Read The Guardian’s coverage of Oliver-Taylor’s resignation

Hugh Marks is looking forward to taking on the job, and ABC Friends is keen for him to succeed. Crikey has turned its critical eye to his background and the Chair of the ABC, Kim Williams, to whom he will report, is very enthusiastic about the appointment. We may be in for exciting times, and the new MD/Editor will definitely be worth watching.

Read the Crikey report

Welcome, Hugh Marks!