Anthony De Ceglie clears out of 7 for NRL Bears job in ‘growth industry’

His appointment and newsroom changes resulted in an unprecedented amount of media coverage, but just two days after his departure was announced, Anthony De Ceglie has quietly left Seven.

Anthony De Ceglie, the ex-7 news boss turned CEO of the NRL Perth Bears, has told close confidants he is looking forward to moving into a new job where he can “hire instead of fire”.

Inside sources say Network 7 is staring down the barrel of another significant cost-cutting program a year after De Ceglie was appointed to execute a major round of cuts, which saw 150 jobs unceremoniously axed, including those of high-profile talent.

Sunday Confidential can reveal De Ceglie’s office was cleared out on Saturday and his replacement, Ray Kuka, spent Friday evening at Seven’s headquarters in back-to-back meetings.

De Ceglie has told close friends he was exhausted by years of a cost-cutting media landscape and looked forward to moving into a growth industry.

It’s understood senior executives across 7 have been given a significant cost cutting target for coming months. It is understood this will impact the struggling news division.

Anthony De Ceglie’s short time as Seven West Media news boss sparked many headlines. Picture: Emily Kulich/Melbourne Press Club

Unrelated to the cost out targets, questions are being raised internally about the future moves of key talent hires installed by De Ceglie in place of more expensive staff who were cut in the last round.

De Ceglie, who took over as the director of news and current affairs and editor-in-chief at Seven West Media in April 2024, replacing Craig McPherson who had held the role since 2015, made a number of controversial hirings and changes throughout his short tenure.

He hired high-profile foreign correspondent Hugh Whitfeld as director of the newsdesk, poached A Current Affair’s Sydney bureau chief Gemma Williams to run Spotlight, and moved Sunrise executive producer Sean Power to the role of director of news in Sydney.

He also appointed former finance editor Gemma Acton as the newly created director of news operations, and installed a veteran Chris Salter, as the director of news in Seven Melbourne.

When Kuka officially starts his new job on Monday, focus will likely turn to 7NEWS.com.au, which despite De Ceglie’s efforts to increase audiences, has weakened under his watch.

Kuka’s appointment has been met with praise in the newsroom, with the man who is credited with “fixing Brisbane”, well liked and respected within Seven.

His closest allies include CEO Jeff Howard, CEO of Seven West Media WA Maryna Fewster, Group Managing Director Angus Ross, head of content Brooke Hall plus many more news directors, executive producers, presenters, journalists and producers.

“His work and reputation precedes him,” said one.

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