ABC began international search to replace Justin Stevens as news director without his knowledge

Hugh Marks confirms ABC secretly engaged recruitment firm and signals sweeping changes at national broadcaster

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The ABC managing director, Hugh Marks, has confirmed he secretly engaged a recruitment company to look for a replacement for news director Justin Stevens after the two disagreed over the direction of ABC News.

Marks said Stevens “did not know” he had begun an international search for a new head of news but it was a necessary move because they “couldn’t get agreement on the way forward”.