Nine Adelaide news director Tony Agars replaced by deputy Jeremy Pudney

Tony Agars has departed as news director of Nine News Adelaide after 15 years in the role. The broadcaster has promoted deputy Jeremy Pudney to succeed Agars.

Nine director of news and current affairs Darren Wick said: “Tony leaves behind an important legacy and a length of service that is to be celebrated and admired.

“Under Tony’s leadership, Nine News Adelaide grew to a one-hour bulletin and he oversaw the introduction of an additional afternoon bulletin during the week. He has mentored many young reporters and ends his tenure knowing that he has made an important impact to news gathering in SA.”

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Agars said: “Nine has played a huge and enjoyable role in my life and I'm fortunate to have worked with so many outstanding people. I’m proud to have been a part of Nine News, a great and trustworthy team.”

“To my friends and colleagues there – I wish you nothing but success. You deserve it!”

Pudney joined Nine News Adelaide in 2014 as deputy news director. He said: “I am excited to take on this important role and to lead the team during a time when gathering accurate and trustworthy news is more important than ever.”

Talking about the shuffle, Nine Adelaide managing director Sean O’Brien said: “Jeremy will build on the great culture we have at Nine, where creating great content and distributing it broadly is everything.

“With over 20 years’ experience, he has an exceptional resume across print and television, is the current president of the SA Press Club and the author of the best-selling book ‘Snowtown: The Bodies in Barrels Murders’.”

The change in news leadership at Nine News Adelaide is key “to taking the success it has achieved over the past few years to the next level”, Wick said.

Top photo: Outgoing Nine News Adelaide news director Tony Agars