Seven West Media’s WA operation – responsible for the West Australian, Sunday Times and regional newspapers – is to be “ring fenced” from other activities under a new restructuring plan.
There will also be separate divisions for television and digital.
The changes follow the appointment of editor-in-chief of The West Anthony De Ceglie to additional responsibilities as SWM’s director of news and current affairs in April, and new appointments announced yesterday.
Two new group managing directors – Gereurd Roberts, currently SWM chief digital officer and Angus Ross, currently Seven’s chief content officer, entertainment programming – have been appointed to the digital and television divisions. In WA however, chief executive Maryna Fewster continues to be responsible for SWM’s broadcast, digital and print brands.
The group has also announced the appointment of content scheduling director Brook Hall as Seven Network’s chief content officer, and of Seven Adelaide managing director Vikki Friscic as head of sales strategy and enablement. The former leader of Carat in South Australia, she joined Seven a year ago, bringing extensive experience of the agency side of the business.
Operations and transformation director Trent Dickeson becomes chief operating officer, and Craig Haskins’s acting chief financial officer role has been made permanent.
Earlier this week, it was reported that chief revenue officer Kurt Burnette, chief marketing and audience officer Melissa Hopkins and head of sport and Melbourne managing director Lewis Martin had been made redundant as part of a cost-cutting exercise expected to impact up to 150 jobs.
SWM managing director and chief executive Jeff Howard said the changes would impact how the executive team worked together, with “new, accountable and transparent” profit centres for the TV and digital business units.
Pictured: SWM’s headquarters in Perth