Bloodbath continues at Channel 7 as veteran news figure departs

Channel 7 continues to ring in the changes with the shock departure of a huge name following a clear-out of the executive team across the country.

Channel 7 continues to ring in the changes with the shock departure of veteran news chief Neil Warren following a clear-out of the executive team across the country.

Well-regarded at the network, he is expected to stay on to smooth the transition. However, his departure comes amid ongoing turmoil at the network that has seen a string of high profile departures.

The Seven Network announced a huge shake-up in April in the wake of the Spotlight scandal with news chief Craig McPherson stepping down and West Australian editor Anthony De Ceglie moving to Sydney to take on the role.

The changing of the guard follows news.com.au’s exclusive report that a Spotlight producer, Taylor Auerbach, had spent $10,000 on a corporate credit card to order two Thai masseuses to his home after a boozy dinner with Bruce Lehrmann.

Mr Lehrmann has denied getting a massage. In the fallout from the story, Spotlight executive producer Mark Llewellyn left the company and the program’s chief of staff Steve Jackson was dumped from his appointment as the head of NSW police media.

The ABC’s Four Corners is now believed to be preparing a major investigation into workplace culture at the network.

Staff were briefed on Thursday afternoon about the latest changes.

The Seven Network’s Director of News and Current Affairs and Seven West Media Editor-in-Chief Anthony De Ceglie addressed staff this afternoon regarding several key changes to the leadership team.

Well-regarded at the network, Neil Warren is expected to stay on to smooth the transition.

West Australian editor Anthony De Ceglie is moving to Sydney to take on the role.

Mr De Ceglie announced the appointment of Sean Power to the role of Director of News for Seven Sydney.

He is currently the Executive Producer of Sunrise, under the leadership of Seven’s Director of Morning Television, Sarah Stinson.

“Neil is extremely well-regarded by all his peers at Seven and across the industry,” Mr De Ceglie said.

“We’re sad to see him go but wish him all the best, and we’re grateful he will be sticking around for some time yet to ensure a smooth transition.”

Mr De Celige said that Mr Power’s time at Sunrise had been marked by incredible success and creativity.

“The opportunity to lead the 7NEWS Sydney team in this next chapter is incredibly exciting,‘’ Mr Power said.

“We have the best journalists, producers, cameramen and editors in the country, in a new state-of-the-art studio and newsroom, and we will continue to put our audience first when telling the stories that matter most to Sydney.

Mr Warren said: “I’m extremely appreciative of all the opportunities and memories the network has provided me over many decades.

“Seven has been like a big family to me. But I know this is the right decision.”

Channel 7 said in a statement that with a broadcast television career spanning an impressive 44 years, the past 32 of which have been with Seven, Mr Warren has amassed a peerless body of work as a journalist, bureau chief, executive producer and news director.

“In that time, he has covered countless history-defining news events including the death of Princess Diana, the London and Bali bombings, the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, Sydney and London Olympic Games, multiple Queensland elections and devastating weather events in the region including Cyclone Yasi,” 7 said.

Channel 7 continues to ring in the changes with the shock departure of their veteran news chief following a clear-out of the executive team across the country.

“Prior to his most recent stint as director of 7NEWS Sydney, Mr Warren devoted eight years to leading the 7NEWS Brisbane and Gold Coast newsrooms and was instrumental in the launch of Seven’s Gold Coast news in 2016.”

7 said Mr Warren would stay on for some time, to support the Sydney news team through the transition period. He will also help steer Seven’s news coverage of the Olympic Games.

Current Supervising Producer Jake Lyle will take on the role of Sunrise Executive Producer vacated by Mr Power.

His promotion follows the recent appointment of experienced broadcast and print journalist Holly Fallon as Executive Producer of Weekend Sunrise.