The ABC’s managing director, Michelle Guthrie, has lost the first member of her executive team, digital network director Angela Clark, who has been described by predecessor Mark Scott as a public broadcasting champion.

Clark, who was hired by Scott, the former managing director, in 2012, oversaw the development and growth of the ABC’s portfolio of digital products including the successful catch-up TV service iView, ABC Kids and the ABC News website, which reached the top of the Nielsen digital rankings in July for the first time. ABC News is now more popular than Rupert Murdoch’s news.com.au and Fairfax Media’s smh.com.au.

Clark’s digital strategy for transforming the public broadcaster was approved by the ABC board at its August meeting a week ago. The strategy details how the ABC can survive the disruption of digital media and break down the silos of radio, TV and online into one seamless service.

But within days Clark had tendered her resignation, saying she wanted to pursue opportunities in the commercial sector. Guthrie has made no comment about Clark’s resignation.



Former and present colleagues of Clark’s expressed surprise at her resignation and many were singing her praises on Sunday, including Scott, who thanked her for her contribution.



Now the secretary of the New South Wales education department, Scott talked the former chief executive of Macquarie Radio Network into joining the ABC after a stint in media start-ups.



“Smart, fierce, passionate, with such a big, compassionate heart for all that is great in public broadcasting and our society,” Scott said of Clark.

In a post about her resignation on LinkedIn, Clark singled out Scott for his “clear and transformative vision of both what the ABC is and can be”.

“Today, I’m not naive enough to think that the marathon that is the ABC’s digital transformation is anything but ‘just begun’,” she said. “But I am confident that the ABC has the right foundations, team and strategy in place and is executing on its vision in a way that will ensure the journey is successful.

“Like many who join the ABC, I was motivated by a sense of civic purpose and Australian pride in the role that the ABC plays in the lives of so many. And in the hope that, in some small way, I could contribute to the collective effort that delivers such richness, context and value to Australians every day.”

A fellow director on the ABC executive team, Leisa Bacon, called Clark a “gladiator” who would be greatly missed.

Since Guthrie began her five-year term in May she has not outlined her overall vision for the ABC but significant decisions taken include axing the Fact Check unit and closing the opinion website The Drum.