Seven Network’s Peter Meakin steps down

Peter Meakin, director of news and public affairs at Australian commercial broadcaster Seven Network, has stepped down.

Meakin, who joined the network in 2003, was in charge of all of Seven’s news output. He will continue in a senior advisory role.

He will be replaced by Rob Rachke as director of news and Neil Mooney as director of public affairs.

“It’s time to pull the plug on this chapter of my life,” he said. “It’s been a wonderful nine years and I want to thank everyone who has taken Seven to the top. That includes Kerry Stokes, David Leckie, Tim Worner and all the great people who made me look better than I am.”

“Peter is a legend. Nine years ago, I set out to secure his services for Seven. He agreed to join our network as it set its sights on leadership, and today his track record speaks for itself: with his leadership of market-leading news and public affairs at two television networks over the past two decades. There’s no one quite like Meakin. He has played a most critical role in driving home our leadership and I’m pleased that he’ll continue to play a key role as we identify and nurture our future in news and public affairs on the Seven Network,” said Kerry Stokes, chairman of Seven West Media.

Seven Network CEO, Tim Worner added: “Working alongside Peter has been a great privilege and an experience I’m pleased to report we have both survived. Peter’s achievements over his stellar career are to be celebrated, in particular his time here where he has played a key role in Seven’s success. Because of the sheer volume of news and public affairs programming on Seven, going forward the role will be split into two senior executive positions. This change of structure recognises our commitment to what is a critical part of our business. We intend to grow our Seven News and public affairs offering in 2013.”