(Credit: Marcin n®/Wikipedia)

The Australian Daily Telegraph called an Australian media executive “incompetent,” a “sadistic executive,” and “the smiling assassin” behind costly “management bundles.”

Now that executive, Macquarie Media CEO Adam Lang, is suing the Telegraph and the author of its article, editor-at-large Matthew Benns.

According to Mumbrella, Lang’s lawsuit argues the article libels him with its characterizations of him as incompetent, responsible for costly management issues, and more.

iMediaEthics has written to the Telegraph‘s publisher News Corp. and Lang for more information. Both declined to comment.

The article in question was headlined in print, “‘Smiling assassin’ in 2GB spotlight.” 2GB is one of the radio stations owned by Macquarie Media. Lang also complained about three other Daily Telegraph articles, Mumbrella noted.