Alan Kohler to Retire After Three Decades with ABC

Veteran financial journalist Alan Kohler is retiring from the ABC after three decades with the national broadcaster, including 24 years as a lead finance presenter. He announced his decision to staff on Wednesday, stating, "I love the ABC, always have, even more so after I joined it."

Kohler, 74, said, "I find it very hard to imagine this wonderful place not being part of my life, but I'm 74 and it's time to spend more time with my family, including the six grandchildren."

He is expected to step away from his work at the broadcaster at the end of the year. ABC managing director Hugh Marks thanked Kohler for his contributions, saying, "For decades, he has helped Australians make sense of complex issues with insight, clarity and a uniquely engaging style, always delivered with warmth, humour and that trademark cheeky grin."

Kohler built a prominent career in financial journalism, beginning as a columnist for The Australian Financial Review before writing for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. He launched The Eureka Report in 2001 and the digital news site Business Spectator in 2007.

His 31-year tenure at the ABC saw him become a recognizable figure, often signing off with "And that's finance." He started as a business and economics correspondent and became the face of Inside Business. Currently, he writes a weekly column and hosts the podcast That's Business.

In 2019, Kohler was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his "significant service to the print and broadcast media as an editor, journalist and finance commentator." He has also collaborated with his son, Chris Kohler, the finance editor for Channel Nine, on social media content explaining economic and financial news.