After months of intense speculation, David Leckie has stepped down as chief executive of Seven West Media and will become executive director of Seven Group Holdings.
Former oil and gas company Woodside managing director and chief executive Don Voelte will take over from Leckie. Voelte is currently a director of Seven West Media.
In a statement released to the ASX, the media owner said Leckie will continue to be involved in Seven's television operations in an advisory and counsel role, working with Voelte and chief executive of television Tim Worner.
Leckie said: "I am looking forward to this new role. It's been a great honour to lead Seven. We've had fun, kicked some goals and together built a very good media business.
“But it's time for me to take a career step and I'm looking forward to playing a key role in Seven Group Holdings and further enhancing the company's media presence. I am also looking forward to working with Don and his great team of media executives."
Voelte said: "I love building sustainable businesses. We have the best brands in the media and we have a strong management team. My role is to harness these businesses and its leaders. Our objectives are clear: leadership in a sector undergoing radical change, develop our management teams, improve our financial performance without impacting the product for our readers, viewers and advertisers, and create opportunities to expand our presence in media.
Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes said: "Don is internationally recognised as one of the world's best executives and as a director of Seven West Media, he has made a strong contribution to the development of the business.
“He is acknowledged for driving businesses in challenging and competitive markets. He is a highly qualified executive who will lead a skilled management team as we take advantage of the significant opportunities in media over the coming years."
Of Leckie, Stokes said: “David's track record confirms that he is undoubtedly the best television executive in Australia, leading two television networks to leadership over the past two decades. He is a strong leader and has built a strong and well-credentialed management team. He commands the respect of the people here at Seven West Media and across the entire industry."
Leckie's future at Seven has been the subject of industry scuttlebutt for years, reaching a peak in the past 18 months. As recently as earlier this month, former News Limited boss John Hartigan had been linked to Leckie's job.
When Seven sales boss James Warburton decamped to Ten, a high-profile court case ensued which revealed the tensions between the Seven boss and the man many thought would eventually replace him.
Leckie has been credited with turning around Seven's fortunes after years of playing second fiddle to Nine, where he had worked until 2002 when he was ousted by James Packer.
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