The parent company of Australia’s Seven Network has appointed the CEO of its joint venture on-demand service Yahoo!7 to the new role of group chief operating officer.

Rohan Lund

Rohan Lund will take the new role at Seven West Media (SWM) as of September 1, focusing primarily on creating business opportunities for the company’s digital media assets, such as Yahoo!7, where he’s been chief exec for five years.

Yahoo!7’s operations include a Seven online catch-up service and online news and media content. The platform launched in 2006.

SWM CEO Don Voelte said of Lund’s appointment: “Rohan brings unique management experience across media and communications and a reputation for driving change. He has led the successful development of Yahoo!7 and he will now lead SWM’s evolution as we drive operational efficiencies across the group and pursue new content and revenue channels for all our businesses.”

“Scale in content and reach is becoming increasingly critical and Seven is the best placed media company in Australia to take advantage of the changing media environment,” added Lund.

Voelte himself is not yet two months into his new role, having replaced ^[1] the long-serving David Leckie, who was given an executive director role.

SWM’s largest shareholder, Kerry Stoke’s Seven Group Holdings, is currently working to increase its 24% stake in Consolidated Media Holdings, which owns a quarter of Australian pay-TV operator Foxtel. However, News Corp’s A$2bn (US$2.1bn) offer received regulatory approval ^[2] earlier this month, likely scuppering the plan.

SMW was created in April last year when Western Australian newspaper acquired the Seven Network, Yahoo!7 and publisher Pacific Magazines, in deals worth a total US$4.1bn ^[3].