List: Where are the people who left Channel 7 now?
They are many of the faces we’re used to seeing on our TV screens, but the landscape has changed drastically. WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
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They are many of the faces we’re used to seeing on our TV screens, but the landscape has changed drastically over the past two years.
From shock departures to brutal culls, Channel 7 in Queensland – and across Australia – has undergone a radical facelift in recent times.
This is what has happened and where the talent is now >>>
What was the timeline of events?
There had long been speculation, with some regular faces disappearing in early 2024.
Over the coming months there were more changes in front of and behind the cameras.
On June 24, 2024 it was revealed a “massacre” within the senior executive ranks of Channel 7 shocked industry watchers, who said it’s a sign of just how serious the crisis was at the network.
Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes, the billionaire media magnate who owns a controlling share of the network, oversaw a brutal clearing out of his nine-person management team.
Prominent industry commentator Tim Burrowes, publisher of the Unmade newsletter, described it as “one of the most dramatic days the media market has seen”.
Seven’s senior job losses and a major restructure came hot on the heels of a messy and damaging period for Seven and its lauded news division.
In November 2024 it was confirmed Channel 7’s Gold Coast studio would shut down.
What was the reason for the changes?
Australia’s three commercial networks have battled against an unstoppable tide of declining viewership numbers and dwindling advertising revenue for the better part of two decades.
Marc C-Scott, a senior lecturer in screen media at Victoria University, said commercial broadcasters had been too slow to innovate in response to the rise of the internet and streaming.
Anna Potter, a professor in digital media and cultural studies at Queensland University of Technology’s School of Communications, agreed.
“It’s got an end-of-days feel about it,” she said at the time.
“Commercial broadcasting is being savagely impacted by the loss of advertising revenue to new and more efficient platforms. And of course, the Meta deal has fallen over, which has put further pressure on them.”
Who left Channel 7 and where are they now?
Kurt Burnette
The former chief revenue officer at Seven sent packing in June 2024 was reported to have joined Cre8tive AI studios as chief commercial officer.
“After 30 years in media, I’ve been fortunate to experience and learn from many different approaches to the way premium video content for entertainment, news and sport is created, consumed and monetised,” he said in March 2025.
Lewis Martin
Another to be culled in June 2024, the one-time head of network sport and Melbourne managing director is now listed on LinkedIn as being the interim GM of GPI Corporate & Strategy Lead for the Australian Kabaddi Team and the Aussie Raiders.
Melissa Hopkins
The chief marketing and audience officer, part of the June 24 “massacre”, is listed on LinkedIn as being Chief Change Agent, Chief Optimist and Non Executive Director.
James Warburton
The Seven West Media chief executive left the troubled company in April 2024, more than two months earlier than initially announced.
He was succeeded by Jeff Howard.
SWM chairman Kerry Stokes thanked Mr Warburton for his contribution to the business over many years, but the statement to the ASX did not give a reason for Mr Warburton’s early departure from the company.
In July 2024, Warburton joined the board of photo sharing app company Tinybeans as a non-executive director.
Warburton was last month appointed as the new CEO of V8 Supercars, a role he served from 2013 to 2017.
Craig McPherson
Seven West Media’s director of news and public affairs stepped down from his role with the national broadcaster in April 2024.
The veteran news head did not give a reason for his departure, but said he had been considering the decision “for a while”.
“I believe now is a good time for all to have a fresh start,” he said in a statement.
“I’ll be taking a long break to spend time with all my family and wish everyone at the network continued success.”
Sharyn Ghidella
Veteran Channel 7 newsreader Ghidella in July 2024 launched an extraordinary social media attack on her employer, just hours after she was sacked by the TV network.
Ghidella, who read the 6pm Brisbane weekday news bulletins alongside Max Futcher, said she had been “sitting at the hairdressers for work” when she received a shock phone call telling her “my time was up.”
In a social media post, Ghidella also lashed job cuts at the network and across the commercial TV industry, including at Seven and Nine, and said: “The past couple of weeks in TV has, sadly, been a miserable affair.”
In August 2024 she joined 10 News First Queensland, while also filling in as a co-host on The Project.
She now also writes a popular column for The Courier-Mail.
Bruce McWilliam
Seven West Media’s commercial director was Kerry Stokes’ right-hand man.
He retired from the company in April 2024 and lists his role as “consulting in the areas of media, commercial transactions and property acquisition and development” on LinkedIn.
Paul Burt
The popular weatherman, who had gained a cult following across his television career, was told in June 2024 he would not continue his daily weather cross after the end of July.
Social media pages were ablaze with outrage at the popular fisherman’s axing, with hundreds of viewers commenting.
Burt said the move had left him “heartbroken”.
Burt in March 2025 joined rival Nine Radio’s 4BC weekend line-up in Brisbane.
That came as his TV show, Step Outside with Paul Burt, returned for its seventh season on 7mate in Queensland.
Kendall Gilding
The presenter announced her departure in December 2023 after a 12-year tenure with the network.
“Some news from me …” she wrote on Instagram at the time.
“On this exact day 12 years ago I did my first shift at 7NEWS.
“Which is why it feels so hard to say that this week will be my last.”
She has since joined The Courier-Mail as a columnist.
Steve Titmus
The Channel Seven Gold Coast News presenter wasted no time finding a new job with the veteran broadcaster in November 2024, slipping into the sports chair for the station’s statewide bulletin.
Titmus, who spent the past three years hosting the network’s 5.30pm Gold Coast news alongside Amanda Abate before the shock decision by station management to pull the plug, took over from Shane Webcke.
Titmus said it was sad to say goodbye to Seven’s Gold Coast bulletin, which went head-to-head with rival Nine for almost a decade.
Ben Davis
Respected sports department head Davis, who first walked into Seven’s Mt Coot-tha headquarters 30 years ago, was in February 2025 told his contract would not be renewed.
The 50-year-old father of three officially announced the news on social media.
“Naturally I’m disappointed but as it was explained to me, this was nothing to do with performance, ability, or talent – it’s just business,” Davis wrote on LinkedIn.
Davis said he was confident he would find new employment, particularly with the Olympic and Paralympic Games on the horizon.
He is listed to be working as a host and journalist for B&B Media.
Shane Webcke
The Seven News Brisbane presenter in August 2024 confirmed he would depart from January 2025, but remain in a role with Seven.
“After 18 years presenting sport for 7NEWS Brisbane, I’ve made the decision to take a slightly new direction and from January I’ll be stepping back from the newsdesk,” he said at the time.
“It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while, to allow me greater flexibility and more time to pursue my family agricultural interests.”
Craig Dyer
Channel 7 in Brisbane faced further disruption in June 2024 after the sudden resignation of its veteran operations manager.
After more than 20 years with the network, Dyer announced his immediate resignation in a letter to colleagues.
He is now listed as General Manager at Iceworks Design PTY LTD.
Liz Cantor
Long-standing weather presenter Cantor in August 2024 announced she was jumping to rival Network 10.
It marked an abrupt end to her 16-year career as presenter on Seven Queensland’s live Gold Lotto draw.
However, she retained presenter roles on the network’s outdoor adventure lifestyle programs Creek to Coast and The Great Southeast.
Rob Brough
Perhaps the greatest mystery of them all, the long-serving presenter has not officially left Seven and as of December 2021 he was still in his role.
He was the face of the Sunshine Coast, Wide Bay, and Mackay bulletins, among others, however various presenters, such as Joanne Desmond and Nathan Spurling, have taken over different roles since.
Originally published as List: Where are the people who left Channel 7 now?
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