Financial Review editor-in-chief James Chessell quits to join media start-up

The editor-in-chief of the Australian Financial Review, James Chessell, is departing to join business columnist Joe Aston’s independent media outlet Rampart. The paper’s editor Cosima Marriner has been appointed as editor-in-chief, becoming the first woman to hold the role.

Chessell took over as editor-in-chief of the Financial Review just over two years ago, having previously been Nine’s managing director of publishing and executive editor at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. The Financial Review is owned by Nine, which also publishes this masthead.

Aston founded Rampart in early 2025 after leaving the Financial Review’s Rear Window column in 2023. Upon its launch, Nine signed a commercial arrangement with Rampart, agreeing to do the publication’s legal work in return for a share of revenue. Aston also writes a monthly column for The Financial Review.

Last month, Rampart announced it had raised $2.3 million in funding and has hired several full-time journalists.

Marriner said it was an enormous privilege to be appointed to lead the Financial Review.

“Over the last few years we’ve worked hard to modernise the AFR and to broaden our journalism while staying true to our core of business, finance and politics,” Marriner said. “We are in the best shape we have ever been, whether it’s in terms of audience, subscribers or revenue.

“At the AFR what we write matters to decision makers across business, finance and politics.

“My ambition for the AFR is to continue to build on our reputation for breaking major news stories, setting the agenda and being the authoritative voice which shapes our national conversation.”

Chessell and Aston were contacted for comment.

Calum Jaspan is a media writer for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, based in Melbourne. Reach him securely on Signal @calumjaspan.10Connect via X or email.