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

ABC managing director Hugh Marks says Justin Stevens ‘did not know’ an international search for his replacement was under way, but it was necessary because they couldn’t agree ‘on the way forward’. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

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”.