Seven CEO James Warburton departs network

James Warburton, the chief executive and managing director of Seven West Media, left the company on Thursday, amid a tumultuous period for the broadcaster.

Seven West’s chairman, Kerry Stokes, thanked Warburton “for his contribution to the business over many years” in an announcement to the stock exchange.

Howard takes the helm at a difficult period for broadcasters and traditional print outlets, due to a global downturn in advertising linked to inflationary costs.

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Seven is part-way through a cost-saving initiative, worth tens of millions of dollars, that it has indicated would be expanded if the advertising market remains weak.

Seven West Media, which operates the Seven Network and West Australian Newspapers, has been entangled in a number of recent controversies, which include allegations made during a defamation trial that the network reimbursed Bruce Lehrmann for money spent on cocaine and sex workers.