Worner gets fast axing by Stokes

SEVEN West Media chair Kerry Stokes says he and Tim Worner only decided it was time the company had a new chief executive two nights ago.

Mr Stokes says he directed the board to install former Ten Network chief James Warburton as Mr Worner’s successor immediately rather than “dragging it out”.

His comments come after Seven revealed yesterday that Mr Worner would step down as chief executive straight away.

“Tim and I had a couple of long discussions last week about our position and where we were going in the future, and I decided last night I would accept his resignation,” Mr Stokes said.

The revelation comes ahead of Seven’s full-year results next Tuesday.

Asked why the company didn’t wait until then to make the decision – meaning it could be announced alongside the results – Mr Stokes said it was best done “quickly”.

“On my recommendation, the board appointed James. We were very lucky to have James available as he was to be able to step in,” he said. “We made the decision it was better for everybody (if) it could happen quickly rather than dragging it out.”

Mr Stokes dismissed the notion the scandal that engulfed the company in 2016 and 2017, following Mr Worner’s relationship with staffer Amber Harrison, had contributed to his departure.

The chief executive had worked incredibly hard the past two years, Mr Stokes said.

“I think Tim has been a really great contributor to the company for the last 25 years and the last six or so as CEO,” he said. “It’s a very demanding job. It grinds down the best of people.

“I’m not suggesting he had been ground down. He certainly had been putting in onerous hours and conditions because he cared so much, and it was just time to refocus the company.”

They had “agreed mutually that was the best thing to do”, Mr Stokes said.

Mr Warburton has returned to the network where he ran the sales division until 2011, before moving to Ten, then later running Supercars and billboard company APN Outdoor.