Financial journalist Alan Kohler, a familiar face on the ABC's 7pm news bulletin, will retire in December after three decades as the public broadcaster's highly respected financial guru. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.
Now 74, Kohler has been presenting finance, complete with idiosyncratic graphs, on the ABC for almost a quarter of a century, signing off each evening since 2002 with the catchphrase: "And that's finance".
"I love the ABC, always have, even more so after I joined it," Kohler said on Wednesday.
"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."
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, led the tributes, saying Kohler's contribution has been immense and his finance reports will be "really missed from ABC and from the TV screens in suburbs right around Australia".
"He's always done a wonderful job, boiling down some of the difficult and complex interactions in our economy," Chalmers said in Sydney.
"So I've had an exchange with Alan since his retirement from the ABC was announced. I wanted to take the opportunity publicly to say how much he will be missed from the ABC. I hope and expect that he'll continue to make a contribution to economic commentary in this country. His contribution has been immense and I hope that it continues in one way or another and I expect that it will."
During the pandemic, Kohler delighted audiences with a quirky home-based TV set he decorated with an ever-changing erudite pile of books and a single house plant.
Kohler joined the ABC in 1995 as business and economics correspondent for the 7.30 Report after editing the Age and the Australian Financial Review.
During his 50-year career in media he has enjoyed success as an entrepreneur, founding online platforms Eureka Report and Business Spectator.
The managing director of the ABC, Hugh Marks, praised his "extraordinary contribution" to the ABC.
"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," Marks said.
The broadcaster's new news director, Simon Robinson, said Kohler would remain connected to the ABC with future ideas and projects.
"We'll have much more to say about Alan and his remarkable contribution closer to his departure date," Robinson said. "We'll also be tackling the difficult task of selecting his successor on the 7pm bulletin and will make that announcement in coming weeks."
Former ABC broadcaster Phillip Adams said on X it was sad news that "King Kohler" was leaving.
Economist Stephen Koukoulas said Kohler had made a huge contribution to economics, policy and markets and was a "thoroughly fabulous chap".