Antony Catalano
Antony Catalano is an Australian media and property-advertising businessman who founded Metro Media Publishing, was chief executive of Domain from 2013 to 2018 and in 2019 acquired Australian Community MediaAustralian Community MediaAustralian Community Media (ACM) is an Australian regional and rural news publishing group with more than 100 brands, including The Canberra Times; in 2019 Nine sold it to a company controlled by interests associated with Antony Catalano and Thorney Investment Group.Open the full entry with Thorney Investment Group.
Contents12 sections
Key facts
2010Founds Metro Media Publishing
After a long career in journalism, sales, marketing and circulation, Catalano founded Metro Media Publishing Pty Ltd in 2010.[1]
The company launched The Weekly Review in April 2010.[2]
December 2011Joint Venture With Fairfax
Fairfax formed a joint venture with Metro Media Publishing in December 2011, paying $35 million for a 50% stake.[2]
November 2013Domain Chief Executive
Fairfax Media appointed Catalano, a former reporter and editor with The Age, chief executive of its real estate classifieds business Domain; he had been part-owner and chief executive of Metro Media Publishing.[3]
He was the largest individual shareholder of Metro Media Publishing and remained a director of it after taking the Domain job.[4]
January 12, 2015Fairfax Buys Out MMPH
Fairfax announced it would acquire all of Metro Media Publishing Holdings and fold it into Domain; Catalano, its founder, chose to take all his consideration in Fairfax shares and stayed on as Domain Group chief executive.[5]
2017–2018Domain Listing and Departure
He spent 26 years with Fairfax, led Domain through its 2017 spin-off into a separately listed company and left as chief executive in January 2018.[6]
His biography says that in his four years as chief executive Domain grew from a $200m enterprise to a $2.3bn valuation.[1]
2018Attempt to Block the Fairfax–Nine Merger
Catalano tried to block Nine’s merger with Fairfax Media by proposing to buy a 19.9% stake in the publisher.[7]
April 30, 2019Acquires Australian Community Media
Nine announced the sale of its Australian Community Media and printing business for about $115 million in cash to a company controlled by interests associated with Catalano and Thorney Investment Group.[8]
March 2026Charged With Assault
Catalano was charged with assault, false imprisonment and “making threats to kill” over an early-morning incident on March 13, 2026, and was granted bail at a late-night court hearing.[9]
He then issued a statement saying he was “deeply ashamed and humiliated,” that he had been dealing with significant mental health and substance abuse issues, and that he would take six months’ leave from all professional responsibilities.[10]
May 2026Court Hearing and Board Exit
In May 2026 he appeared by video link and had yet to enter a plea; his lawyer said he had completed a 28-day rehab stay, and the case was adjourned to June.[9]
That month his son Jordan Catalano, 35, replaced him as a director of 20 Cashews, ACM’s holding company.[11]
As of October 2026: Holdings and Roles
Interests associated with Catalano hold 50% of 20 Cashews Pty Ltd, the owner of ACM.[12]
As of March 2026 he was also executive chairman of View Media Group Pty Ltd.[10]
Related Organizations, Websites, and Public Accounts
Australian Community Media: Official website: https://acm.media/ (opens in a new window)[12]
Sources
- Antony Catalano (opens in a new window)
- Fairfax Media pays $72 million to buy back its Melbourne real estate ad revenues (opens in a new window)
- Fairfax appoints Domain CEO (opens in a new window)
- Catalano appointed CEO of Fairfax's Domain (opens in a new window)
- Fairfax Acquires 100% Interest in Metro Media Publishing Holdings (MMPH) and Consolidates into Domain (opens in a new window)
- Nine sells regional titles for $115m (opens in a new window)
- Catalano purchases Nine's regional papers (opens in a new window)
- Nine Sells Its Australian Community Media & Print Business To Antony Catalano (opens in a new window)
- Media mogul skips court in person after assault charges (opens in a new window)
- Canberra Times co-owner steps down from media company following arrest for alleged assault, threats to kill (opens in a new window)
- Antony Catalano steps down from media empire (opens in a new window)
- Investors | ACM Media (opens in a new window)