Acting ABC managing director David Anderson has praised Michelle Guthrie's "dynamic" leadership, but is unable to say why she was sacked by the broadcaster.
Michelle Guthrie's replacement is unable to say why her "dynamic" leadership style was wrong for the ABC board or why she was sacked as managing director.
Acting managing director David Anderson, a 30-year ABC veteran, has given his first interview since Ms Guthrie's shock ousting on Monday.
"Michelle's leadership style was dynamic. Michelle challenged us in a lot of ways to be better, challenged us to free up more money for content and went about that over the last two-and-a-half years," Mr Anderson told the broadcaster's News Breakfast program on Tuesday.
However, he was not privy to the board's deliberations.
"I can't tell you why (her leadership style) was wrong for the ABC board and why the ABC board made the decision that they made," he said.
Justifying the decision, board chairman Justin Milne said her relationship with the government could have been better, and she was not the right leader for the ABC.
"The board felt in the end that her leadership style was not the style that we needed going forward. We needed a different leadership style," Mr Milne told the ABC.
Labor communications spokeswoman Michelle Rowland said the move took her "completely by surprise", and Australians will be curious as to what transpired at the broadcaster.
"I think there will be opportunities for that coming up at Senate estimates in the near future," Ms Roland told ABC Radio on Tuesday.
Ms Guthrie is considering her legal options.
[Full analysis is available on audio news.]
