Annette Sharp: Senior producer Monica Lepore resigns from Sunrise

One of Sunrise’s senior producers - and a rumoured favourite of Kochie’s - has resigned following colleague Michael Pell’s elevation to a US-based title, writes Annette Sharp.

Michael Pell, pictured celebrating 10 years with Sunrise, is moving on.

A senior supervising producer of TV breakfast show Sunrise — and rumoured favourite of anchor David Koch — has handed in her resignation following a shake-up of the production team behind Seven’s top-rating show.

Monica Lepore resigned from Sunrise on Thursday, just hours after Seven executives announced promotions for three senior producers affiliated with Sunrise and The Morning Show.

Sunrise executive producer Michael Pell’s exit from Sunrise has triggered some staff changes.

The off-screen shake-up followed Wednesday’s big announcement, first revealed in this newspaper last month, that longtime Sunrise executive producer Michael Pell will take up a new role — and suitably lofty title — in Los Angeles after Easter.

With his reappointment, Pell will move away from Seven’s news division (and any lingering tensions with Seven’s news boss Craig McPherson) and into a programming role under Seven chief content officer and programming boss Angus Ross.

That move, in turn, on Thursday triggered the promotion of former The Morning Show executive producer Sarah Stinson to the newly created role of director of morning television, overseeing two programs and two newly appointed executive producers, Sean Power at Sunrise and Chloe Flynn at The Morning Show.

Lepore, who is said to be highly prized at Seven after 21 years at the network, has told colleagues she will step down to consider her options after being overlooked for
the younger and less experienced Power.

Power, believed to be 31, has a radio background but little experience in the high-pressure environment of live television — and virtually none in the studio control room, where he must spend 15 hours a week navigating the drama of breaking news and celebrity egos.

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Originally published as Annette Sharp: Senior producer Monica Lepore resigns from Sunrise