Finance presenter Alan Kohler retiring after three decades at ABC

After a brilliant 31-year career as the ABC's finance guru, Alan Kohler has decided to hang up his boots at the end of the year.

With a successful career in print before moving to television, Kohler has been one of the most influential journalists Australia has ever produced, as a former editor of The Australian Financial Review (AFR) and The Age and as an incisive columnist on all affairs financial.

"I love the ABC, always have, even more so after I joined it," he told ABC staff in a statement.

"I find it very hard to imagine this wonderful place not being part of my life, but I'm 74 and it's time to spend more time with my family, including the six grandchildren."

Kohler joined the public broadcaster in 1995 as business and economics correspondent for the 7.30 Report and went on to host Inside Business.

For the past 24 years, he has been the lead 7pm News finance presenter, unravelling the mysteries of financial markets for the audience with a format all his own that has often begun with: "Now, here's an interesting graph."

ABC managing director Hugh Marks said Kohler had made an extraordinary contribution to the organisation and the nation.

"For decades, he has helped Australians make sense of complex issues with insight, clarity and a uniquely engaging style, always delivered with warmth, humour and that trademark cheeky grin.

"I can't thank Alan enough for everything he has given to the ABC and our audiences. While this marks the end of an incredible chapter, it is certainly not the end of Alan's contribution, just the beginning of a new one."

Kohler hosted Inside Business for many years. He currently writes a weekly column and hosts a podcast, That's Business, every Friday.

While he is a distinguished editor, Kohler's biggest impact on the nation has been as a communicator.

After several stints as the chanticleer columnist for the AFR, he joined The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) and The Age as senior business columnist, working with your correspondent during my time as SMH business editor.

A canny entrepreneur, he had by that stage already launched The Eureka Report and later left Fairfax Media when he added online news service Business Spectator to the mix.

Throughout his various incarnations, he has remained steadfastly loyal to the ABC and to his audience and is expected to continue his association with one-off specials.