Nine Network makes major move after news chief sparked MeToo email to TV stars and staff over his sudden exit

Darren Wick resigned from Nine on March 15Wick was head of news and current affairs Do you know more? Email [email protected] READ MORE: Major blow for Channel Nine staff - as leaked internal email reveals they won't be getting paid on time 

Nine has appointed respected journalist Fiona Dear as its director of news and current affairs after the sudden resignation of long-serving executive Darren Wick.

The network made the announcement a day after CEO Mike Sneesby urged staff with complaints of 'inappropriate behaviour' at the network to come forward.

Dear, who began her television career as a work experience kid at WIN Wollongong, has been the executive producer of A Current Affair for the past five and a half years.

She will oversee a roster of Nine programs including the 6pm news bulletins, Today, A Current Affair and 60 Minutes as well as breaking news teams.

'I'm honoured now to be given this role, and I look forward to the challenges, the news that makes our business great and leading our people as we tell Australia's stories every day,' Dear said.

Mr Sneesby sent an email to all Nine employees on Wednesday afternoon, two months after the departure of Wick.

Nine has appointed Fiona Dear as its director of news and current affairs after the sudden resignation of long-serving executive Darren Wick. Dear, the executive producer of A Current Affair, is pictured

'It is important for everyone at Nine to know that we don’t tolerate inappropriate behaviour in the workplace and want to know if there is inappropriate behaviour occurring, so that it can be addressed promptly,' Mr Sneesby's email said.

Mr Sneesby then assured employees that making a complaint about such conduct would not be damaging to their careers.

'... If you feel that you have been victimised because you have made a complaint about an issue, you should raise that with the senior leaders of our business or with People and Culture,' he wrote.

'Our guidelines on conduct in the workplace and how we manage complaints about workplace issues are on our intranet.

'I encourage you to raise any concerns you may have about behaviour in the workplace, to ensure Nine is a safe and supportive place for all of us to work in.

'We have all been involved in developing our purpose and values which need to guide the way we turn up each day.'

A Nine spokesman said the network would not be commenting on the timing of Mr Sneesby's email, the reasons for Wick's departure, or the nature of any allegations about inappropriate behaviour.

Nine Network boss Mike Sneesby has urged any staff who have complaints about inappropriate behaviour at the network to come forward with their concerns. The email comes after the recent departure of Darren Wick as Nine's director of news and current affairs

Mr Sneesby's email referred to recent media attention on Nine’s 'internal processes and policies regarding complaints about conduct in the workplace' following Wick's exit but did not mention Wick him by name.

Stories published by News Corp this week have alleged there was a 'toxic culture' in the workplace of its competitor during Wick's reign.

Wick announced his resignation in a statement on March 15, ending weeks of speculation about his future during which Nine insisted he was just taking an extended summer break.

'I am stepping down as the National Director of News and Current Affairs and leaving Nine,' the 61-year-old told colleagues in an email sent that Friday afternoon.

'This is my 13th year in that position and my 29th year at the Network.

'Some of you are aware that I have taken a few weeks off to think about my future. And after many long beach walks and even longer conversations, I know in my heart that this is the right time for me to step down and leave Nine.

Wick announced his resignation in a statement on March 15, ending weeks of speculation about his future during which Nine insisted he was just taking a break. Wick is pictured second from right when he was overseeing 60 Minutes staff including Tara Brown (far left)

'I don't want to use the word "retiring" because I don't know how to sit idle. But I am going to take a very long break from what has been four decades of working as a journalist. I'm tired and need a rest.'

Nine's programming boss Michael Healey paid tribute at the time to Wick for his work at the network.

'I personally want to thank Wickie for his commitment to the Nine News brand and wish him well,' he said.

Wick described himself as an alcoholic in the wake of being caught driving more than four times over the legal limit after a Nine function in October 2020.

Having been pulled over in his Jeep Grand Cherokee with a blood alcohol level of 0.227, Wick blamed his excessive drinking on a mixture of stress from his high-pressure job and a double hip replacement.

Wick's solicitor John Sutton told Hornsby Local Court in January 2021 his client effectively worked 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Nine Network boss Mike Sneesby (above) assured network employees that making a complaint about inappropriate workplace conduct would not be damaging to their careers

Mr Sutton said Wick had also suffered anxiety over the detention of 60 Minutes reporter Tara Brown and her crew in Beirut during a bungled attempt to bring two children back to Australia in 2016.

On the day he was arrested Wick had been to lunch then caught an Uber back to Nine's studios, then at Willoughby on Sydney's lower north shore, where he attended a farewell function for a workmate.

'He drank and he drank and he drank,' Mr Sutton said.

A police statement of facts said Wick had set out to drive the 20km to his Narrabeen home on the northern beaches but travelled just 1.2km before he came to police attention.

Wick had almost fallen onto the road when he was apprehended.

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Mr Sutton said it might be asked why a colleague had not stopped Wick getting behind the wheel but magistrate Robyn Denes was quick to reject that submission.

'Who's going to stop him?' Ms Denes said. 'If you think of his role in management, who's going to stop him?'

Mr Sutton said Wick had apologised to Nine staff for his actions and noted media coverage of his drink driving had reached more than nine million people.

'He now calls himself an alcoholic,' Mr Sutton told Ms Denes. 'He understands he's an alcoholic. That has got to be the first stop on the road to recovery.'

Ms Denes sentenced Wick to a nine-month intensive correction order which included completing 100 hours of community service.

Wick, who was convicted of mid-range drink driving in 2010, had come to court expecting to be sent to prison.

'I'm in a position where I do know better and I should have known better,' he said after the hearing.

'But it comes down to I let an addiction to alcohol get out of control. I didn't respect it for what it was.

'I made a terrible mistake where I could have harmed others.'