Cosima Marriner, previously the paper’s editor, will assume the role of editor‑in‑chief effective immediately. Marriner’s promotion follows Chessell’s tenure, during which he oversaw the paper’s coverage of finance and business while reporting to Nine, the media conglomerate that owns the Financial Review.
Before joining the Financial Review, Chessell served as Nine’s managing director of publishing and held senior editorial positions at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. His move to Rampart aligns with the outlet’s rapid growth after its launch in early 2025, when Aston left the Financial Review’s Rear Window column in 2023 to start the independent platform.
Rampart, which raised $2.3 million in funding last month and has added several full‑time journalists, operates under a commercial arrangement with Nine. Under the deal, Nine provides legal services to Rampart in exchange for a share of the outlet’s revenue, underscoring a collaborative yet competitive relationship between the two media entities.
Aston continues to contribute a monthly column to the Financial Review, maintaining a direct link between the legacy newspaper and his new venture. The staffing changes and ongoing partnership suggest a fluid media landscape in Australia, where legacy publishers and digital start‑ups are increasingly intertwined.