Ita Buttrose in with a chance for ABC chair, despite not being on four-man-deep shortlist.

Media personality and former magazine editor Ita Buttrose is poised to be named the new chair of the ABC.

The appointment of the 77-year-old would bring to close a troubled period for the corporation following the rancorous exit of the previous chair Justin Milne and managing director Michelle Guthrie six months ago.

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield is expected to bring the matter up with cabinet this week.

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“The government is undertaking a process to appoint a new ABC chair,” a government spokesman said.

“No decision has been made and an announcement will be made in due course.”

Ms Buttrose’s name is to be nominated despite it not being included in a shortlist compiled by an independent panel following an extensive search by global recruitment firm Korn Ferry.

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age have shared the list of names provided by the panel… and they are all male;

Former Fairfax chief executive Greg Hywood, former News Corp chief executive Kim Williams, Film Victoria president Ian Roberston and Gilbert + Tobin managing partner Danny Gilbert.

If Ms Buttrose is selected, it would make the 2013 Australian of the Year only the second woman to head the ABC since Dame Leonie Kramer in the early 1980s.