ABC appoints David Chau to replace veteran finance reporter Alan Kohler

The ABC has appointed David Chau as its new 7pm news finance presenter following the retirement of Alan Kohler. Photograph: ABCView image in fullscreenThe ABC has appointed David Chau as its new 7pm news finance presenter following the retirement of Alan Kohler. Photograph: ABCABC appoints David Chau to replace veteran finance reporter Alan KohlerBroadcaster says Chau will be new finance presenter while Jessica Irvine has been appointed money correspondent

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David Chau will replace the retiring Alan Kohler as the ABC’s finance presenter on its 7pm news bulletins, the national broadcaster has announced.

Kohler, a veteran finance journalist, announced his retirement last month after 31 years at the ABC. He will present his final finance segment on Wednesday night’s 7pm bulletins, the ABC said in a statement on Monday.

Chau, who joined the ABC as a digital producer in 2017, will replace him. Chau began presenting finance reports on the ABC’s News Channel in 2019, and on Monday said he was “honoured for this opportunity to continue Alan Kohler’s legacy – the man is indisputably a national treasure”.

The ABC has also announced that Jessica Irvine would join the broadcaster’s national business reporting team in the newly created role of money correspondent. Irvine was an economics journalist at the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age for nearly two decades.

View image in fullscreenAlan Kohler last month announced his retirement as finance presenter after three decades with the ABC. Photograph: ABCKohler joined what was then called The 7.30 Report in December 1995 as business and economics correspondent, after three years as editor of the Age.

In a statement, the ABC’s news director, News Simon Robinson, said: “On behalf of the ABC I extend to Alan Kohler our sincere thanks for his incredible contribution and best wishes for the future. He has been a respected and admired part of the ABC family for three decades and leaves a huge legacy.”