Seven West Media has appointed Chris Jones to the new role of director of network sport.
Jones was previously executive producer of Seven’s cricket coverage. Over the past 20 years, he has worked on AFL, cricket, summer and winter Olympics, US Masters, Australian Open tennis, Australian Open golf and more.
Jones joined Seven in 2000 as a junior reporter. After stints at Nine Network and Thrive PR, he returned to Seven as a senior sport producer in 2009. He was appointed an executive producer in 2018.
Seven’s AFL executive producer, Gary O’Keeffe, has been elevated to the new role of head of AFL and sport innovation; horse racing executive producer Andrew Hore-Lacy has been named head of horse racing; motor sport executive producer Kirsty Bradmore becomes head of sport digital; and cricket and horse racing producer Joel Starcevic has been appointed head of cricket.
Jones will lead a team that includes O’Keeffe; Hore-Lacy; Bradmore; Starcevic; executive producer of motor sport, Angela Rampal; head of sport production, Greg Smith; and head of sport production management, Lisa Peach.
He will report to Seven’s chief content officer, Brook Hall.
The moves follow Seven's new operating model revealed last week, which saw head of sport Lewis Martin among the redundancies that were made from the media company.
Hall said Jones has been an integral part of Seven's sport team for many years.
"I can’t think of anyone better to lead our sport coverage," he said.
Jones said he feels privileged to have worked with and learnt from some of the best in the business.
“We are on the eve of an exciting new era here at Seven with the addition of digital rights for both footy and cricket. This means every single Australian will have access to live and free coverage via 7plus and broadcast. Can’t wait to get stuck in," he said.
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