Seven West Media chief executive and managing director James Warburton is leaving the company immediately, months earlier than originally planned.
Warburton had been due to quit his role by the end of June, but brought forward his departure to today following a board meeting.
The move comes following a series of damaging scandals for Seven, including allegations aired by former producer Taylor Auerbach during Bruce Lehrmann’s failed defamation trial against Network 10 that Seven paid for sex and illicit drugs while trying to secure an interview with the former Liberal staffer for its Spotlight program.
Seven denied the allegations, saying it was “appalled” by them.
“We do not condone the behaviours described in these allegations. They do not reflect the culture of Seven,” the company said.
The network is also facing potential legal action by 20-year-old student Benjamin Cohen after he was wrongly identified as the killer in Saturday’s Bondi stabbing attack.
Seven’s current chief financial officer Jeff Howard will take over from Warburton tomorrow.
Hired to lead Seven in 2019, Warburton had previously been chief executive at outdoor advertiser APN Outdoor, Supercars, and Network 10.
When his departure was originally announced in December, Warburton said the “time is right” for the company to appoint a new chief executive.
Seven is still looking for a new CFO to replace Howard.
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