Morning TV gun Sarah Stinson surprise winner in Seven shake-up

Buried in a a two page press release announcing the departure of Seven News boss Anthony De Ceglie, was one line revealing a surprise winner in shake-up.

Anthony De Ceglie’s departure from Seven has improved the stocks of the broadcaster’s director of morning television Sarah Stinson.

In a densely worded two-page press release issued by Seven on Thursday to belatedly confirm the departure of news boss De Ceglie and appointment of his replacement Ray Kuka – and choc-a-bloc full of glowing endorsements from CEO Jeff Howard and chairman Kerry Stokes concerning both – there appeared, in the last line, a tiny acknowledgment of Stinson.

“ … In addition to Ray’s appointment we have taken the opportunity to bolster our executive team to ensure we continue to deliver our strategic objectives and future ambition. To that end, we are also excited to announce that Sarah Stinson … will join the SWM executive team.”

Seven’s Director of Morning Television Sarah Stinson has joined the Seven West Media executive team. Picture: Supplied

Those who remain faithful to the Seven news team’s old guard and its former director Craig McPherson are of the view Stinson was hands-down the obvious pick to replace McPherson, her mentor, when he stepped down in 2024.

Stinson has consistently delivered for Seven and managed to steer breakfast show Sunrise through a series of major recent upheavals including the departure of executive producer Michael Pell in 2022, popular host David Koch in 2023 and, previously, Samantha Armytage in 2021.

She is also responsible for the production of around 40 hours of consistently solid television a week.

Her appointment to the SWM executive is seen as belated recognition of that fact and her oversight.

Meanwhile in news that is likely to irritate De Ceglie, Kuka, or so we hear, has managed to persuade Seven’s senior executive he can fill the outgoing news bosses shoes while commuting to and from Perth.

His wife, like De Ceglie’s, is apparently no fan of Sydney.

UNSETTLED NERVES

De Ceglie made a lot of promises during his brief 13 months at the helm of the Seven West Media newsroom.

There’d be “no d**kheads” on his watch, no game playing, more doers, less delegators, more positivity, less focus on ratings, more whiteboard slogans, and, though not a promise, far fewer seasoned reporters.

But as he packs up his desk and steps aside for an older and more experienced TV successor, Ray Kuka, who starts Monday, what De Ceglie leaves in his wake at Seven is, rather than a slate of transformative achievements, a refreshed though youthful national news leadership team full of recently promoted and hired staff now reeling in shock at the speed of the heralded “change agent’s” need for personal change.

Anthony De Ceglie’s 13-months at the helm of the Seven West Media newsroom has come to an end. Picture: Colin Murty

De Ceglie has been replaced by seasoned Seven West news director Ray Kuka. Picture: The West Australian

Insiders at Seven say the 39-year-old is headed back to WA to tick a personal goal off his bucket list, that goal having been to become a CEO by age 40. He will be the inaugural CEO of the NRL’s newest rugby league team the Perth Bears, and very much at the beck and call of titular NRL boss Peter V’landys, one imagines.

Also, it’s said, he has quit Seven because his wife Sarah, a lawyer, hates living in Sydney – and possibly because he’s rather sensitive to this writer’s well-documented criticisms.

The first task for incoming news and current affairs director Kuka will be to settle his troops, including those given promotions while De Ceglie was in the chair.

Among these are recently appointed executive producers of Spotlight, Sunrise, and Weekend Sunrise, as well as key news directors around the nation.

Channel 7's 2025 election night team, with Ray Kuka (second from right), and Anthony De Ceglie (far right) Picture: Instagram

These include Spotlight executive producer (EP) Gemma Williams, who moved to the helm of the embattled current affairs flagship program last year; Sunrise EP Jake Lyle, whose program’s lead (five city metro) over Today has shortened; Weekend Sunrise EP Holly Fallon and Sydney news director Sean Power whose 6pm news bulletin has been weakened by the decline of the 5pm game show lead-in, The Chase, as well as the loss of veteran reporters such as Robert Ovadia.

Seven’s director of news operations Gemma Acton.

Spotlight executive producer (EP) Gemma Williams. Photo Jeremy Piper

Power is rumoured to be headed to Melbourne so perhaps De Ceglie’s departure will have less bearing on his future.

Others new in their roles are national newsdesk director Hugh Whitfield, director of news operations Gemma Acton, Melbourne news director Chris Salter, Adelaide news director Mark Mooney, and Brisbane news director Erin Edwards.

Acton, we hear, may soon be transitioning to a new role.

Then there’s the struggling digital division, which has seen massive turnover under De Ceglie and, since March, has been headed up by director of digital news Natalie Wolfe.

Sydney news anchors Mark Ferguson and Angela Cox may also be wondering if further change is on the horizon with Seven chairman Kerry Stokes said to prefer a solo newsreader over a double act.

Weekend Sunrise Executive Producer Holly Fallon. Picture: Supplied

Sunrise Executive Producer Jake Lyle. Picture: Supplied

KARL’S NEW GIG?

Karl Stefanovic, a future game show host?

That’s the hot mail from inside the Nine bunker where sources claim Stefanovic has let slide his ambitions to emulate his one-time role model and former Nine star Eddie McGuire and become a game show host.

With his contract negotiations on the table it seems a desperate Stefanovic is looking for ways to secure the million-dollar salary bump given him by former CEO, and chum, Mike Sneesby.

With his dreams of becoming a talk-show host fast turning to seed, he is said to have set his sights on the role of hosting Nine’s popular new game show, The Floor.

Karl Stefanovic and Today co-host Sarah Abo on the set of Nine's The Floor as rumours of the star's game show ambitions swirl. Picture: Nine

Karl is said to have his eye on the hosting role, currently held by actor Rodger Corser. Picture: Nine

We hear Stefanovic rates himself as being better suited to the program than Doctor Doctor actor Rodger Corser, who eventually secured the gig.

Stefanovic brought his best fist-bumping Larry Emdur exuberant energy to a recent promo for the show which saw him face off against his Today show co-host, Sarah Abo, in a mini duel.

Corser looks nonplussed in the segment, which is, we understand, how Nine management viewed Stefanovic’s expressions of interest in Corser’s role.

DINNER DATE

Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson has a soft spot for Potts Point noshery Fratelli Paradiso – “great people, great mood, great food …” – and makes a beeline for the restaurant whenever she’s in Sydney.

On Wednesday the British celebrity turned heads when she and fellow woman trailblazer Celeste Barber dropped in for a meal.

Funny woman Barber is newly returned from her smash comedy tour of UK, Europe and Dubai, Backup Dancer, while Lawson has ventured to Sydney for the Vivid Sydney light festival which opens next week.

Aussie comedian Celeste Barber dining with chef Nigella Lawson in Sydney. Picture: Instagram

The 1kg T-bone steak from Fratelli Paradiso. Credit: @come_eat_with_chrissy

The previous week Lawson was spotted at a private Federal Election party hosted by Sydney husband-and-wife media power couple Lisa Wilkinson and Peter FitzSimons.

History doesn’t relate how and when Lawson and Barber met but close observers noted the two looked to be getting on famously on Wednesday while bonding over a shared love of beef.

The acclaimed food writer, who is known for her love for sumptuous rich meals, and Barber apparently had little problem finishing off a 1kg T-bone steak, a Fratelli Paradiso signature dish, served along with an assortment of side dishes which the women, and a male friend, made short work of.

Lawson is curating a series of dinners in a newly opened pedestrian tunnel in Martin Place during Vivid.

ON THE MOVE
A year after winning a coveted job on Nine’s 60 Minutes Adam Hegarty has relocated to Melbourne from Sydney.

Amber Johnston and 60 Minutes reporter Adam Hegarty in February. Picture: Instagram

The move has raised questions about Hegarty’s future with the program, which is based in Sydney.

According to network sources Hegarty recently broke up with his girlfriend.

Hegarty was dating fellow Nine staffer Amber Johnston in 2024 and into the early months of 2025.

Hegarty, about 38, was fast-tracked onto the 60 Minutes reporting team in January 2024 along with colleague Dimity Clancey as Nine moved to attract younger viewers to the show with younger reporters.

Originally published as Morning TV gun Sarah Stinson surprise winner in Seven shake-up