Karl Stefanovic, Richard Wilkins, Ben Fordham split on Charlie Teo

Media company Nine’s ranks remain resoundingly split on the highly emotive topic that is neurosurgeon Charlie Teo, Annette Sharp writes.

Media company Nine’s ranks remain resoundingly split on the highly emotive topic that is neurosurgeon Charlie Teo.

In a week in which Premier Dominic Perrottet made headlines for donating $25,000 to Teo’s charitable foundation which raises money for brain cancer research, Nine stars Richard Wilkins and Ben Fordham, both Teo ambassadors, headed west to less fashionable Pyrmont where the Teo Foundation dinner was also being held on Wednesday night.

Wilkins MC-ed the Nine party before driving to Doltone House where Fordham also had MC-ing duties.

Richard Wilkins and Ben Fordham. Picture: Mitch Cameron

Karl Stefanovic and wife Jasmine.

Missing from this troupe of merry dissidents was Karl Stefanovic, who was disciplined by Nine execs last month after giving an unsanctioned interview in which he took aim at colleagues who he believed had been party to a Teo “pile on”.

He later apologised for the comment, which coincided with a 60 Minutes’ stitch-up of Teo.

Brain cancer surgeon Dr Charlie Teo. Picture: Brenton Edwards

It seems Stefanovic has learnt his lesson after provoking the ire of Nine newspaper scribe Kate McClymont.

Celebrations signals a rarity in TV

Seven chief executive James Warburton has done what no television CEO in probably the history of Australian television has done and splashed out on a party for his wife in the final week of the official TV ratings season.

The longtime married Warburton, something of an enigma in the blokey ranks of commercial TV, threw a chic 50th birthday party for wife Nikki at Barangaroo’s bar and grill Circ at Crown at the weekend.

James Warburton with wife Nikki. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The Seven boss spared no expense, with 120 guests – exclusively family and friends with many children in the mix – gathering at the rooftop venue to toast Mrs Warburton as she enters her sixth decade.

Nikki, a successful businesswoman in her own right, is currently on the board of the GWS Giants and has a background in consumer business, brand and marketing, most recently in the automotive industry.

The couple, who have been married for 22 years and have two teenage sons, stand in stark contrast to former CEOs of Nine and Seven, Hugh Marks (Nine) and Tim Worner (Seven).

Deckchair shifts on Love Boat

Members of Point Piper’s prestigious Royal Motor Yacht Club have returned former president and solicitor John Barbouttis to the presidency, toppling incumbent commodore Ian Dale. However, it was another appointment that had Sydney talking on Friday.

After a fierce campaign during which Dale, father of Sydney socialite and Swiss finishing school graduate Kirsten, circulated flyers depicting him looking rather a lot like The Love Boat’s Captain Stubing — a move that may not have helped his campaign — club members looked to the future with the appointment of a Sydney yachting scion to its new committee. Ned O’Neil, property developer son of Denis O’Neil, one-time bestie of Paul Keating, has been voted treasurer, replacing outgoing Andrew Cusack.

Ned O’Neil and Deborah Symond O'Neil. Picture: Instagram

As the son of the 1968 Sydney to Hobart winner Denis, 30-something O’Neil, husband of Deborah Symond O’Neil and son-in-law of “Aussie John” Symond, has a two-decade long history with the club and plenty of influence.

However, his appointment hasn’t thrilled everyone, particularly those familiar with O’Neil’s plans concerning marina development.

Having acquired the Point Piper marina in 1994 for $6m, in 2006 O’Neil’s private company Addenbrooke, which also owns the nearby Rose Bay Marina, lobbied to combine the two marinas.

The plan met with stiff opposition from wealthy residents in nearby Wunulla Rd and the proposal failed amid concerns any new “mega marina” would one day be sold off, potentially becoming a future shopping mall.

O’Neil played down new talks of expansion while acknowledging the Point Piper marina would need to be “upgraded” at a future date: “I want to do my bit with a club I really love,” he said winningly.