‘Who’s running the show?’ Seven Network controversy raises questions for trade partners and employees

It could be fair to suggest that the Seven Network is going through somewhat of a brand crisis, but who is at the centre of it?

On a new episode of the Mumbrellacast, editor Neil Griffiths and publisher Adam Lang discussed the controversy coming out of the TV giant in recent times. As well as explosive emails sent from outgoing commercial director Bruce McWilliam via SMH this week, it has been speculated that managing director and CEO James Warburton will be heading for the exit next week, despite Seven insisting he will not depart until on or before 30 June, as first announced late last year.

“It’s not really a consumer issue, as in, the millions of people that watch and read and consume their content, that’s probably not of major concern to them. But as trading partners for the business of media and advertising who trade with Seven: ‘Who am I going to be dealing with and who’s running the show?’ That is a change,” Lang said.

“This is more about the employment brand. And so, you can see that the change from James Walburton to Jeff Howard is coming, [that] may be brought forward. And then you look at, well, why would that happen?