Seven Network Limited (SEV) has announced a series of senior management appointments in key divisions of the company. The company said the appointments were part of a new management structure, which was designed to increase integration across its television, publishing and online businesses.
James Warburton, who is currently network director of sales for the Seven Network, has been appointed to a newly created role, chief sales and digital officer for the group.
“This role will see Mr Warburton responsible for all sales across broadcast television, magazines and online, expanding on Seven Media Group’s current success in cross-platform selling and marketing and leveraging the scale and reach of the company’s market-leading media brands,” the company said.
Meanwhile, Kurt Burnette, who is currently Sydney sales director, was appointed Seven Network director of sales and will report to Mr Warburton.
The company said that Peter Zavecz would continue as commercial director for Pacific Magazines and will report to Mr Warburton on matters relating to sales at Pacific Magazines.
Meanwhile, Jenny Hosie is slated to continue as director of sales for Yahoo!7.
The company said that Peter Lewis was appointed chief operating officer for Seven Media Group.
Mr Lewis is currently Seven Media Group and Seven Network chief financial officer.
“In his expanded role, Mr Lewis will continue to be responsible for the company’s finance functions, information systems and human resources, as well as now assuming management responsibility for the Seven Network’s television stations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and the company’s regional television network, Seven Queensland,” Seven said.
According to Seven the general managers of those stations would report to Mr Lewis, while he would report to chief executive officer of Seven Media Group, David Leckie.
Mr Lewis is also to assume the station management role from Ian Johnson who has been appointed chairman of Channel Seven Melbourne, after five years as managing director of Channel Seven Melbourne.
The company also said that Lewis Martin, currently the Seven Network’s Melbourne sales director, has been appointed general manager and sales director of Channel Seven Melbourne.
“His responsibilities include the day-to-day management of the station in addition to his current role as sales director in that market,” the company said.
Finally, Trevor Bird, who is currently general manager, group technical services, will assume management responsibility for broadcast services at Seven’s network broadcast centre in Melbourne.
Seven said this appointment brings all broadcast engineering services and operations into Mr Bird’s portfolio.
At 1522 AEST, Seven Network shares fell 24c to $7.53.