Who will replace Peter Costello? Meet the woman who became the new chair of Channel Nine overnight

Vice-chairman Catherine West will take over the reins at Nine Entertaiment after Peter Costello stepped down as chairman following an altercation with a journalist.

The former federal treasurer announced his resignation on Sunday after being accused by a reporter of assaulting him at Canberra airport on Thursday.

Mr Costello denied the accusation later that day, saying Australian Liam Mendes fell after reversing into a billboard while asking him questions.

“I thank the board for their support over the past decade and especially during the events of the past few weeks,” Costello said in a statement.

“There are enormous challenges ahead, but I believe Nine is the best-placed Australian media company to weather them and thrive.”

Nine vice-chairs Catherine West (pictured) will replace Peter Costello as chair of the network

Peter Costello (pictured) resigned as chairman of Nine Entertainment Co. on Sunday. after an altercation with a reporter at Canberra Airport on Thursday

Ms West thanked him for his “dedication and commitment” to the company.

“As chairman, he has always put the needs of the business first and his decision to step down at this time and pass the baton of leadership Nine is in line with that approach.”

In addition to Nine’s board, Ms West has also served on the boards of Monash IVF Group and Peter Warren Automotive and was previously a Sky executive in the UK.

According to Nine’s corporate website, Ms West was appointed vice-chairman in September 2023 after joining the board in 2016.

She is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ms West holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney.

She is director of the Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation, chair of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and director of the NIDA Foundation Trust.

Ms. West serves as Chair of the Wenona School Board of Directors

Nine have been embroiled in scandals in recent weeks as they faced allegations of sexual harassment within the organization.

Australian journalist and shareholder activist Stephen Mayne said installing a female chairman could help change an industry-wide culture that is “not very friendly” to women.

“It’s quite an indictment that there has never been a female chairman of a major public media company, and perhaps this will lead to changes in the media,” he told ABC radio on Monday.

Women now make up almost 40 per cent of boards in the ASX 200, but remain rarer at the top levels, data from the Australian Institute of Company Directors shows, making up just 9.5 per cent of chairs at those companies.

“So hopefully this will lead to further changes in the future,” Mayne said.

Mr Costello has been chairman since 2016.

In a video published by The Australian, Mendes follows Mr Costello through the airport as he asks about Nine CEO Mike Sneesby.

“I walked past him and he walked back into a billboard and fell over,” Costello said.

“I didn’t hit him… if he’s mad about that, I’m sorry, but I didn’t hit him.”

Costello, 66, was questioned by Australian journalist Liam Mendes (pictured) after arriving at Canberra Airport on Thursday afternoon.

Nine chairman Peter Costello (pictured) was filmed pushing over a journalist at Canberra Airport on Thursday

At one point, Mr Costello appears to walk towards the reporter before the journalist falls backwards.

“You just attacked me,” Mr. Mendes says in the video.

Labor treasurer Jim Chalmers criticized Costello, saying if anyone knew it was really important to treat journalists with respect, “it should be the chairman of a major media organisation.”