Was there enough of a tip from Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes in this morning’s conference call with analysts and journalists to expect Kurt Burnette will get the gig replacing the $2.6 million man, Tim Worner, as Network Seven boss.
Worner, of course, was elevated this morning to CEO of Seven West Media.
The comments from Stokes and outgoing Seven West CEO Don Voelte are perhaps telling.
First, Voelte in the final stages of the phone hook-up revealed that in appointing Worner to group CEO that “we didn’t have to look far from home. In fact, we didn’t have to look anywhere from home.”
That suggests Worner’s backside was being hardened for the big saddle for a while and if his hide got thick enough fast enough, he was the man.
Voelte, just 12 months into the role as Seven West CEO, said his first 30-60 days were a little wobbly but said “these guys are quick studies. They soaked everything up. After probably a little bit of an unsteady start for 30 or 60 days, we seemed to gel and get into a common purpose.”
Shortly after the wobbly phase, Voelte proceeded on the big job of taking $100 million in costs out of the group and Worner reiterated this morning that the “cost-out” program was one of his top priorities when he takes over in July.
Of course, the question on everyone’s lips this morning was who gets the Seven Network gig?
Jump back 15 minutes to the opening remarks of Chairman Stokes and it certainly looks like it will be an internal appointment.
“Tim and Kurt have been with me since I’ve been at Seven so I know them exceptionally well,” Stokes said. “Everyone of the other management team I have been personally responsible for choosing at some point in time. So I have a great deal of admiration for each of them. So it has been a good process.
“I have been excited by Don’s contribution. He has brought what I hoped he would which is a business discipline to a media outlet while still allowing us to be creative and achieve those things we set out to do. And that is a whole team effort because it is in the team we look to our future.”
Now, if that last sentence is not a bloody hint from the chairman, what is?
Then, Stokes repeated himself.
“I’m really proud of Tim and I’m really proud of every one of the team in the management circle. As I said, Tim and Kurt have been with me since I arrived at Seven and the others are personally chosen so you couldn’t have a better recommendation than that.”
Indeed. Of course, the wiley Stokes doesn’t mind surprises so don’t write off the dark horse for the Seven Network CEO gig, Rohan Lund. Lund, the former CEO at Yahoo!7, has been in the background working closely with Voelte on the cost-cutting program and the strategic blueprint for the group.
Interesting that one.
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