Jonathan Shier

Who is Jonathan Shier?

Jonathan Shier is an Australian-born businessman and media executive. He was educated at Geelong Grammar School and Monash University. During the years 1978 to 1999 Shier lived in the United Kingdom and The Netherlands and was a Director of Scottish Television, a Director and Deputy Managing Director of Thames Television, the CEO of the Pay TV company Nethold Central Europe and the Commercial Director of the Scandinavian and Baltic broadcaster TV3.

Shier returned to Australia in 2000 and is best known there for his controversial tenure as managing director of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from March 2000 to December 2001. Shier attempted to implement many reforms, which led to the replacement of several senior management personnel. The conservative Howard government was accused by some of having Shier appointed to action a "hit list" of staff, seen as critical of government policies. Others saw Shier as addressing a perceived left-wing bias at the ABC by establishing programmes such as "Insiders", which embrace a wider range of political views.