Newspaper boss Antony Catalano on leave after being charged, Australian Community Media says

. AU edition

Antony Catalano.
Antony Catalano, the co-owner and chair of newspaper group Australian Community Media, been placed on leave after being charged in relation to an alleged incident involving a woman. Photograph: Domain

ACM tells staff its chair and co-owner placed on leave of absence after arrest at apartment building

Regional media boss Antony Catalano has been placed on leave after being charged in relation to “an alleged incident relating to a woman at an apartment”, his company has said in an email to staff.

The co-owner and chair of the Australian Community Media newspaper chain faced a Melbourne court over the charges on Friday, the ABC first revealed.

Victoria police declined to comment when approached by the Guardian, and Catalano did not respond to a request for comment on Saturday.

“In light of the news received overnight in connection with charges being brought against Antony Catalano, the boards of 20 Cashews Pty Ltd, the owner of Australian Community Media (ACM), and View Media Group Pty Limited (VMG) have placed Antony on an immediate leave of absence until this matter is resolved,” ACM’s managing director, Tony Kendall, told staff via email on Saturday afternoon.

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“The charges relate to an alleged incident relating to a woman at an apartment. Antony faced the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday and has been released on bail.”

The email said the company would make no further comment while the matter is before the courts.

“I understand that our staff may be concerned and distressed by this news,” Kendall wrote.

“We are committed to maintaining a safe, respectful and inclusive environment. Please be assured that the executive leadership teams are focused on upholding our company’s values.”

ACM currently has 16 daily newspapers, including the Canberra Times, the Illawarra Mercury and the Bendigo Advertiser, as well as 55 non-dailies and agriculture brands such as The Land.

Catalano bought his stake in ACM in 2019, after working as a journalist and then as the boss of real estate giant Domain.

He turned Domain into a thriving profit centre before he left the company to build his own successful property magazine and then returned to Fairfax to steer Domain through a $2.3bn float.

According to the company’s website, Catalano’s “foresight and vision for ACM has moved it to the position of Australia’s leading independent media company”.