The ABC’s director of news, Justin Stevens, has quit for “reasons both professional and personal”.

Stevens said his four years as head of news for the national broadcaster had been “incredibly tough but immensely rewarding”.

“Having said that, for reasons both professional and personal, now is the right time for me to move on and for someone else to take over the helm of the best news team in the country,” he said on Wednesday.

Stevens, who was executive producer of 7.30 before taking over as news chief, has been at the ABC for 19 years. He has worked under two ABC managing directors and two chairs while director of news.

ABC managing director Hugh Marks thanked Stevens for his “incredible commitment to the ABC” and said he had “worked to achieve outstanding results”.

“Justin has achieved this through a period of significant change and challenges across the media landscape, both internationally and in Australia,” Marks said.

“‌I am grateful to have seen the strength of Justin’s editorial instincts and to have observed his commitment to the ABC and audiences. I wish him every success in the future.”

The ABC reports that Stevens, 42, oversaw news content published by about 2000 employees across television, radio and digital platforms.

“There is no more complex news organisation in the country, no more scrutinised institution, and few so laden with public expectations,” he said in his email to staff on Wednesday.

“In that context, I have sought to strengthen and defend our journalism without being blind to our stumbles; to meet the state of constant change in the digital age; and to improve our culture in News to one where we hold ourselves to the same standards as we do of others in the broader community.”

While he was news director, the ABC secured its first election debate in more than two decades, and created ABC Your Say, ABC News Verify and ABC News Loop for third-party platforms.

Stevens also coordinated the return of Stateline to the ABC and a review of the broadcaster’s international coverage that led to the posting of a new correspondent in China.

But he has also had to oversee several controversies.

They include an investigation into the 2022 Line of Fire reports. Stevens apologised on behalf of the ABC for the inaccurate use of gunshots and the potentially misleading use of a quote as part of the Four Corners program.

He also had to manage Stan Grant’s departure as host of Q+A in 2023.

Grant was the target of ugly racism after his comments on colonialism during the coverage of the King’s coronation. He criticised the ABC for what he said was a lack of public support.

In 2023 Stevens asked the media to be more responsible when reporting on the online abuse of female journalists, calling the “relentless and vile bullying Lisa Millar is subjected to on social media, particularly Twitter”, unacceptable amid a wave of online criticism while she was a News Breakfast host.

“She is an outstanding broadcaster and journalist and does an incredible job,” he said.

In 2024, Stevens also criticised racist abuse aimed at another News Breakfast host, Tony Armstrong.

Earlier this year, more than 1000 journalists and staff walked out in the ABC’s first news strike in more than 20 years amid strained negotiations for a new enterprise bargaining agreement.

At the time, Stevens said the 24-hour stoppage would have “significant impact on our ability to deliver news services to our audiences”.

Last year, the ABC was ordered to pay a $150,000 fine for unlawfully sacking journalist and presenter Antoinette Lattouf.

“What unifies us at the ABC is our belief that our roles require us to set aside our personal views as best we can,” Stevens said soon after Lattouf’s dismissal in 2023.

His departure is effective immediately. ABC rural, regional and metro news boss Donna Field will step up as acting news director.

No permanent replacement has yet been announced for Stevens.