ABC Oz appoints Rachel Millar as new head of entertainment in all-female top team

Australia’s ABC has installed Rachel Millar as its new head of entertainment, taking over from Nick Hayden who exited the organisation in August after four years in the role.

Rachel Millar

Millar has been in the role of acting head of entertainment since August 7 and will take up the official appointment immediately, reporting to ABC’s head of screen content Jennifer Collins.

Collin’s new-look team of all-female leaders that have come together since the broadcasters’ significant restructure from July 1, includes head of scripted Rachel Okin, head of factual Susie Jones, head of children’s and family Libbie Doherty and head of arts, music and events Kath Earle.

Millar joined the ABC in 2021 as an exec producer in entertainment, overseeing programmes such as Hard Quiz, The Weekly with Charlie Pickering, Gruen and the Fresh Blood comedy initiative. She also has production experience on programmes including Rove, Spicks and Specks, Kath and Kim and Aunty Donna.

“I fell in love with entertainment shows growing up watching the ABC, so it’s an honour to be given the opportunity to take on the role of head of entertainment,” Millar said. “The ABC has been the home of so many groundbreaking entertainment programmes over the years – it’s a thrill to be able to continue the tradition of fostering great Australian talent, both in front of and behind the camera.”

Over her television career she has developed and produced comedy and entertainment programming for both the independent production sector and for the ABC.

ABC’s chief content officer Chris Oliver-Taylor said: “I am delighted that with Rachel’s appointment, the ABC’s entertainment, factual, arts, music & events, children’s and family and scripted teams are all led by female leaders.”