Seven West Media hires new HR boss after Amber Harrison, Tim Worner scandal

Seven West Media’s new HR boss replaces an executive who tried to resolve the Amber Harrison-Tim Worner affair.

Amber Harrison.

Seven West Media has hired a new human resources boss as a replacement for a departed executive who played a role in the Amber Harrison-Tim Worner workplace affair scandal.

Former human resources boss Melanie Allibon left the media group in December last year, not long after the two-year affair between former executive assistant Ms Harrison and CEO Mr Worner was made public.

Tim Worner. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Ms Allibon was headhunted to take on a new role as head of HR at Newcrest Mining, where she started in January.

She has been replaced at Seven by Katie McGrath, who joins the media company after a seven-year stint with marketing and communications company Enero Group.

Ms Allibon played a central role in the efforts to negotiate Ms Harrison out of the organisation after executive chairman Kerry Stokes was told about the executive assistant’s affair with Mr Worner.

According to a claim filed by Ms Harrison to the Human Rights Commission, Ms Allibon conducted several meetings with her about the affair and its aftermath. Ms Allibon was involved in the formation of a confidential deed designed to secure Ms Harrison’s silence about the scandal.

The Human Rights Commission terminated Ms Harrison’s complaint in March. It terminated the complaint alleging unlawful discrimination on the grounds that another remedy was being sought; and it terminated complaints alleging sexual harassment and victimisation saying they were “lacking in substance and/or misconceived”.

Ms McGrath joins Seven where she will lead human resources across the Seven Network, Pacific Magazines and its West Australian operations, which include The West Australian and The Sunday Times.

She will report directly to Mr Worner.

Prior to her role with Enero Group, Ms McGrath was the national head of staffing at consultancy firm Bain & Company.