NBN board member appointed ABC chairman

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has announced NBN board member Justin Milne will take over as chairman of the ABC, replacing James Spigelman.

ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie has been sacked by the board. Source: AAP

Former Telstra executive and NBN board member Justin Milne has been appointed the new chairman of the ABC.

Mr Milne, chairman of MYOB Group, takes over from James Spigelman whose five-year term ends on April 1.

"Mr Milne brings exceptional experience spanning the film, digital media, telecommunications and information technology sectors," Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Communications Minister Mitch Fifield said in a joint statement on Thursday.