Catalano son appointed director of media oversight company

A 25-year-old man was appointed Thursday to the board of 20 Cashews, the entity that oversees Australian Community Media. The appointment brings the board to four directors and equalizes representation between the two investor groups that each hold half of the media company.

The new director is the younger son of the media owner who resigned as executive chairman in May after facing criminal charges. He previously served as head of business development at Australian Community Media until January.

Board composition and ownership The four-person board now includes two appointees from each investor group. The other half of Australian Community Media is held by a second investor whose representatives are two Melbourne-based executives. Australian Community Media publishes regional newspapers including The Canberra Times, The Newcastle Herald, The Border Mail and The Illawarra Mercury.

The business also holds property assets across Australia.

Background on leadership change The media owner resigned all corporate directorships after being charged with eight offenses stemming from a March incident. Court documents allege the incident involved an assault at a St Kilda apartment, and the alleged victim was treated for a broken tailbone.

The owner stated at the time that he was dealing with mental health and substance abuse issues and entered a rehabilitation facility. He is scheduled to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in October. The same investor group had previously received expressions of interest in purchasing Australian Community Media from other parties, including a businesswoman who had discussed potential investment before the March incident.