The CEO of Australian commercial free-to-air (FTA) broadcasters’ lobby group Free TV Australia has resigned after less than five months in the role.

Brett Savill said the job was not the right fit for him and that he was stepping aside so Free TV could pursue its agenda under a new leader.

A former partner in PwC’s UK technology, media and telecoms practice, Savill succeeded ^[1] Julie Flynn, who retired after 15 years in the post.

Before joining Free TV Savill spent 16 months as an advisor in corporate development, growth and transformation, and mergers and acquisitions.

He was previously head of government relations and director of strategy and corporate development at BAI Communications (formerly Broadcast Australia), which operates communication infrastructure for broadcasters, mobile operators and government departments and agencies in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and the US.

Free TV chairman Harold Mitchell said, “We are disappointed Brett is not the right person for the organisation and that the appointment has not worked out.”

The organisation gave no clue about who would act as interim CEO or the process to find a successor.

Free TV has been lobbying the government to cut or abolish the licence fees paid by the FTA broadcasters, which amounts to 3.37% of their annual revenues.

Ten Network CEO Paul Anderson yesterday warned ^[2] that the commercial FTA sector was under severe stress and faced an uncertain future unless the fees were cut and media laws reformed.