Seven Network’s commercial director Bruce McWilliam exits after two decades
Australian free-to-air broadcaster Network Seven has announced the resignation of 20-year veteran executive Bruce McWilliam, the network’s commercial director.
“I’ve had a fantastic 21 years with Seven since I joined originally with David Leckie and Peter Gammell and of course the chairman, Kerry Stokes, and I’ve been honoured to be part of the transformation, growth and success of the business over the years,” McWilliam said in a statement.
McWilliam said his future plans would include a focus on his corporate, media advisory and property interests.
Biggest shareholder and chairman of parent company, Seven West Media’s Kerry Stokes thanked McWilliam, credited as his long-running right hand man, for his significant contribution to the company.
“Bruce has been an excellent executive of Seven for the past 21 years, having been involved in all of the major corporate initiatives we have undertaken during that period, and a director of Seven Group Holdings for many years,” Stokes said in a statement.
Seven West Media’s MD and CEO, James Warburton who is also leaving the network in June, described the executive as a “doyen of the media industry” who has been instrumental to the company’s strategy and execution.
“Working with Bruce has always been very rewarding and entertaining, and he is always extremely generous with his time and advice. Everyone at Seven will miss his wise counsel, guidance, knowledge and sense of humour, and we all wish him the very best for what lies ahead,” Warburton said.
McWilliam quipped, “working with Kerry Stokes and James Warburton in his two iterations at Seven has never been dull.”
McWilliam, originally a corporate lawyer, has enjoyed a high-profile career in the media industry with prior positions as a director of BSkyB and executive director of News International Television.
During his extensive legal career specialising in media and commercial law, he was a partner at law firms Gilbert & Tobin and Allen Allen & Hemsley and was general counsel at News International. He also founded legal practice, Turnbull McWilliam, with former Australian Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull.
