Seven takes legal action over James Warburton’s move to Ten
Ten has revealed that it is being taken to court by Seven over James Warburton’s proposed start date with the network as its new CEO.
The conflict is understood to be over the question of whether Warburton is free to start at the end of his contract with Seven or must wait out a further non compete period.
Warburton was announced as Ten’s new CEO earlier this month with a July start date.
But Seven quickly signalled that there might be complications, issuing a statement later that day referring to Warburton’s “contractual commitments”.
In an announcement, Ten said:
“Ten Network Holdings Limited (‘Ten Holdings’) today advised that it had received court documents indicating that Seven Network (Operations) Limited (‘Seven’) had initiated proceedings against James Warburton and Ten Holdings relating to the cessation of Mr Warburton’s employment with Seven, contending the existence of employment and post-employment restraints.
“Ten considers that it has acted properly and in a way that is consistent with Mr Warburton’s employment obligations and will be defending any proceedings accordingly.
“Ten looks forward to Mr Warburton commencing with Ten as Chief Executive Officer, as previously announced, on 14 July 2011. As the matter is currently before the courts, Ten will not make any further comment.”
Seven declined to comment today.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large. He returned to Mumbrella as Publisher in January 2025
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classic Stokes … fight it out in court. It wont change the outcome for Ten, it will cost more money and distract the Seven team.
Can’t remember the last time he won a court battle.
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smh posted this at 12:04. Way to beat them to the punch mumbrella!
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Mumbrella – must say you are to the punch before everyone! Great work. Why on earth would Warburton stay on even if they offered him CEO? Who would? Having Leckie in your face everyday and Mcwilliam and Lewis punching you left and right – sounds like a dogs breakfast to me. Nope, ten was the better deal – he needed to get out. Problem with Seven is that if your crap you leave, if you’re good…you can’t leave unless you’re prepared for a law suit. Seven don’t fight fair (which is why they lose they law suits)
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Know who is going to win…and it ain’t TEN
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The article in the Oz is the winner though – it has the ‘conversation’ between JW and 7’s HR person … plus a neatly photoshopped picture of JW
http://www.theaustralian.com.a.....6019120438
Liston: Did Kerry Stokes meet with you on Saturday (February 27) and make you an offer to be CEO of SMG?
Warburton: Yes. He did.
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Ten will be a poison chalice
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Warbuton has drunk from those poison chalices before and survived – in fact, I think he now has the anti-body…don’t think Seven was a walk in the park…at least with Ten he will be the REAL boss…who on earth reckons JW would lead anything in Seven, CEO title or not? I for one, am happy for him.
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