Former Channel 7 boss David Leckie dies after long illness

TV executive David Leckie has died. The former Channel 7 boss and ‘last of the rock star CEOs’ passed away at his family property in the NSW Southern Highlands.

Australian television executive David Leckie who was described as the last of the rock star CEO’s and a “a legend” of Australian television has died. He was 70.

Hours after his death at his home near Bowral in the Southern Highlands tributes flowed for the tough-talking, no nonsense executive who went toe to toe with Kerry Packer to shape much of the television beamed into Australian lounge rooms.

In a brief statement his wife socialite Skye Leckie said: “With immense sadness we advise the passing of our adored and much-loved husband and father, David Leckie. David passed away at Mulberry Farm, Robertson after a long illness this morning. He was surrounded by his loving family.”

TV titan … David Leckie at his home in Centennial Park. Picture: Adam Yip/The Australian

Leckie worked his way to the top of the Nine network and took it to ratings dominance as chief executive from 1994 to 2001 when Kerry Packer famously sacked him. Two years later he was back, hired by Seven owner Kerry Stokes to turn around that network’s flagging ratings.

Stokes said: “David achieved the turnaround quickly and effectively building a winning team … which delivered us leadership of the TV industry for many years.

“He had a magnificent grasp of television and what people wanted to enjoy, whether it be news and current affairs or light entertainment programming and he achieved success in every aspect of his leadership of Seven.”

For his part Leckie said Stokes was the Kerry he liked best.

Skye and David Leckie.

James Packer makes a point with Leckie.

His great friend, television news executive Peter Meakin, who worked alongside Leckie both at Nine and Seven as Director of News and Current Affairs, said one of Leckie‘s greatest attributes was his bravery.

“He was brutally honest and was very brave. He backed his staff against the highest and mightiest in the business. He was absolutely fearless to the point he got right up Kerry Packer‘s nose. As Packer explained to me … “I’ve fired him. I’m sick of the roadblocks.”

Leckie’s move to Seven upset James Packer who had viewed him as an ally through long monsterings from his father. That came to a head during a lunch at the Opera House for Sam Chisholm’s 70th birthday in 2009 when he said he had always defended Leckie against his father.

“Well I am here to tell you,” Packer said, “my father was right, you are a raging f***wit. Now f*** off.”

Leckie, who had been frail for the past year, had been in palliative care before his death due to unspecified health issues.

Seven West Media Chairman Kerry Stokes said Leckie had a magnificent grasp of TV.

‘He was a rock star of CEOs’ said current Seven boss James Warburton.

He was lucky to survive an accident at his Sydney home in 2008 after injuring his finger after catching it on a garage door while putting out his garbage bins.

He was admitted to St Vincent‘s Hospital and placed into an induced coma after contracting septicaemia. For weeks it was touch and go with Leckie said to have suffered some organ failure.

Yet he recovered and would continue at Seven until 2012. He remained a paid consultant at Seven until 2016, returning briefly to the role last year to help newly installed Seven CEO James Warburton.

“He was once labelled the last of the rock star CEO‘s and I’d say that was a pretty good description,” Warburton said. ”David was the reason I got into television and was a great friend.

“Inspiring, engaging, loud, passionate and famously difficult at times, he was an extraordinary salesperson and an intuitive TV programmer. Without a doubt, he was the best TV executive this country has seen and an important influence and mentor for so many people and careers,“ he said.

Leckie pictured with the legendary Sam Chisolm.

Peter Meakin said one of Leckie’s greatest attributes was his bravery.

Former News Corp chief executive John Hartigan said: “David Leckie will be remembered as a legend, because he truly was a legend.

“It takes exceptional talent to be a top executive and work with both the Packer and Stokes families and withstand the blowtorch that brings with it.

“What stood out about David was his understanding of the Australian people and audience. He didn‘t use focus groups to make decisions, he followed his instincts,” Hartigan said.

Craig McPherson, head of Seven News, said; “He was the Muhamed Ali of TV, untouchable for so long and his legacy will live on for decades.‘

And former Nine political journalist Laurie Oakes said on Twitter: “He was a terrific CEO at Nine. Backed me when there was pressure, even from Kerry Packer.”

Leckie is survived by wife Skye and sons Tim, Harry and Ben, father Ron, and brothers Stuart and Ian. He will be farewelled at a small, private funeral that will be live streamed because of Covid.