Former ABC boss Director Geoffrey Whitehead died in New Zealand on Christmas Eve aged 90, with reports of his passing only just being made public.

No cause of death has been released and it is believed he was in poor health for some time.

Whitehead was born in 1934 and was the national broadcaster’s first Managing Director from 1983 to 1986.

He played a pivotal role in reshaping the ABC during an era when the Australian media landscape was significantly evolving.

His celebrated media career spanned over four decades across Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

He left a lasting legacy of advocacy for public broadcasting and democratic principles. 

Former ABC boss Director Geoffrey Whitehead (pictured) died in New Zealand on Christmas Eve aged 90, with reports of his passing only just being made public

Whitehead’s tenure was marked by significant reforms aimed at modernising the ABC’s internal operations and enhancing its role in Australian society.

His leadership came at a critical time, as he tackled the challenge of defining the broadcaster’s role in an evolving media landscape. 

He championed reforms which aimed to make the ABC more open, accountable and responsive to both the Australian public and its own staff.

Prior to his tenure at the ABC, Whitehead worked as Director-General of Radio New Zealand, where he helped establish the newly restructured national broadcaster.

He began his long career in England in the early ’50s.

In this era, he covered politics for Reuters and the BBC and rose to the position of the broadcaster’s Deputy Political Editor. 

Whitehead’s time at the ABC was not hassle-free as his modern approach to making the news ruffled the feathers of some industry heavyweights. 

This led to his shock resignation from the position in 1986 after four years in the role.

Whitehead was born in 1934 and was the national broadcaster’s first Managing Director from 1983 to 1986

He played a pivotal role in reshaping the ABC during a transformative era

He reflected on his tenure in his 1988 book Inside the ABC and always remained proud of the modernised groundwork he laid for the broadcaster. 

Even in his later years, Whitehead remained a staunch advocate for public broadcasting. 

In 2022, on the ABC’s 90th anniversary, he called for bipartisan support to enshrine the national broadcaster’s role as a cornerstone of Australian democracy. 

ABC Chair Kim Williams paid tribute to Whitehead in a statement. 

‘As the first Managing Director of the newly created Australian Broadcasting Corporation, he was determined to shed its older mindset,’ Williams began.

‘I am pleased to say the ABC is now a much more open and responsive place to change and innovation than in those early days.’

Whitehead is survived by his long-time partner Faith Barber.