Exclusive: Pendleton, who has guided successive managing directors through Senate estimates, is the fourth executive to leave since Michelle Guthrie took over

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

The ABC’s chief operating officer, David Pendleton, has resigned ahead of managing director Michelle Guthrie’s major restructure next month.

A 21-year veteran of the ABC, Pendleton is the executive team’s most senior member and has steered the finances at the national broadcaster under former managing directors Jonathan Shier, Russell Balding and Mark Scott.

He has been a key figure at Senate estimates, helping managing directors answer questions from senators and explaining financing and policy.

“He knows where all the bodies are buried,” one source said. “He is the brains trust of the ABC.”

Sources told Guardian Australia Pendleton said he was resigning because of what Guthrie was doing to the ABC.

In a statement on Friday morning the ABC said Pendleton would leave at the end of this financial year.

“It has been a privilege and an honour to contribute to Australia’s most respected media organisation,” Pendleton said. “I am proud of my team’s achievements during my time here as we have evolved from an analogue to a digital broadcaster.

“Despite the many challenges, we have continued to innovate and provide outstanding service to the Australian public.

“I would like to acknowledge the many MDs, chairs, board directors, colleagues and teams I have worked with in my time at the ABC. I am confident that I leave the ABC in great shape with its best years ahead.”

Guthrie was not quoted in the statement, which said: “The ABC acknowledges the pivotal role Mr Pendleton has played in shaping the ABC’s operational base and in its digital expansion.

“He has provided outstanding service to a succession of ABC boards and managing directors and his operational knowledge and financial expertise will be sorely missed. His input, guidance and leadership have been invaluable in managing one of the most complex media organisations in the country.”

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Pendleton is the fourth person from the 14-strong executive team to resign since Guthrie took over from Scott nine months ago, and the second in a week.

Last Friday the director of television, Richard Finlayson, also resigned without a job to go to. The digital network director, Angela Clark, left in September, followed by the chief executive of international, Lynley Marshall, late last year.

When Scott left in May 2016 there were 14 people at the executive table, but now only 10 remain.

Guardian Australia understands Guthrie is planning to gut the remaining executive, create several powerful new overarching positions and demote the remaining directors. Her chief of staff, Samantha Liston, the former head of HR, is set to take one of the new positions.

Guthrie has told colleagues she has someone in mind for a new position of chief content officer, but no one has been named yet. The chief content officer would take control of the radio and television divisions.

Several sources have told Guardian Australia the news division under Gaven Morris would also have to report to the chief content officer, but this remains unclear.

Pendleton helped Guthrie answer curly questions at Senate estimates last October, explaining that television and radio funds were being diverted away from content making into funding new digital platforms, such as iView and news digital.

Pendleton was the inaugural chairman of MediaHub Australia, the ABC’s playout centre.

A former New South Wales public servant, Pendelton joined the ABC as general manager of group audit in 1996, becoming general manager of financial operations and accounting, and later head of finance. In 2002, he was appointed director of finance and support services, and became chief operating officer in 2004.