Broadcast veteran Leckie exits Seven

David Leckie is leaving Australian commercial broadcaster Seven Network and will take a full-time role elsewhere.

According to local news outlets, negotiations with Seven have ended with Leckie not renewing a multi-year agreement when his contract expires. Therefore, he leaves the broadcaster after 13 years on July 29.

Seven has been the top rated Australian network since 2007, at which point Leckie was CEO. He became chief exec of its parent, Seven West Media, following a merger with West Australian Newspapers Holdings in 2011. Leckie moved to an advisory role in 2012, with Tim Worner in charge of Seven and Don Voelte becoming CEO of SWM.

Two years ago, Leckie resigned from the boards of Seven West Media and Seven Group Holdings, the vehicle through which the Stokes family owns 35% of SWM.

Prior to Seven, Leckie spent 23 years at Nine Network, which was the dominant force in Australian broadcasting for much of that time.

Leckie is the latest big name to leave one of the territory’s major networks.

David Gyngell exited his role as Nine CEO in November, with chairman David Haslingden then following suit in February. Ex-Southern Star boss Hugh Marks became Nine’s new chief, while former topper David Mott was named managing director of ITV Studios Australia.

At Ten, Paul Anderson replaced Hamish McLennan as chief executive in July last year following the sale of 15% of the broadcaster to pay TV firm Foxtel.