James Warburton
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
Mr Warburton is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Seven West Media Limited.
Prior to his appointment as CEO of Seven West Media, Mr Warburton was Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of APN Outdoor where he led a significant transformation and turnaround at the company before departing in late 2018 when APN Outdoor was acquired by JCDecaux for a record valuation. Before his appointment to APN Outdoor, Mr Warburton was the Chief Executive Officer of Supercars for five years.
In this position, Mr Warburton drove significant growth in the sport and delivered unprecedented broadcast, sponsorship and funding deals. Mr Warburton has also held senior leadership roles at media buying company Universal McCann, he was Chief Digital and Sales Officer of the Seven Media Group, and he was the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Network 10.
Kurt Burnette
Chief Revenue Officer
Mr Burnette is responsible for growing the company’s current revenue streams and establishing new revenue opportunities for Seven West Media. He is also responsible for the company’s business development process including the activation of an ‘incubator’ for new revenue opportunities as the company expands its presence beyond broadcast television and publishing. Prior to his appointment as Chief Revenue Officer was Chief Sales and Digital Officer for Seven West Media. In a twenty year career with the Seven Network, Mr Burnette has also been Sports Sales Manager, Sydney Sales Director and Network Director of Sales.
Maryna Fewster
Chief Executive Officer - SWM WA
After emigrating to New Zealand in 1997, Ms Fewster was appointed at iHug, a New Zealand internet service provider.
In 2003, iHug was acquired by iiNet, an Australian based Telco. As part of the iiNet leadership group and as Chief Operating Officer of iiNet, Ms Fewster had an integral role in driving organic growth while ensuring the acquisitions undertaken by iiNet were effectively integrated across people, culture and systems.
Following her departure from iiNet in 2015, Ms Fewster took a consulting role reporting to the Board of ASX listed Seven West Media Ltd, on the operational performance of the WA business. This led to Ms Fewster's appointment firstly as COO of SWM WA and then as CEO of SWM WA in 2018.
Ms Fewster is a trustee of the Channel 7 Telethon Trust, and non-executive director of Celebrate WA and Crown Perth.
Jeff Howard
Chief Financial Officer
Mr Howard has been Chief Financial Officer of Seven West Media since 20 January 2020. Prior to joining SWM, Mr Howard served as CFO of HT&E Limited from 2012, delivering strategic financial leadership while executing on strategy and driving shareholder value. Mr Howard has extensive experience in business transformation and growth in the media sector, including through mergers and acquisitions.
Mr Howard is a Chartered Accountant with more than nine years’ experience in banking at ABN AMRO and RBS and prior that worked with KPMG for 10 years. He completed his Executive MBA with the Australian Graduate School of Management in 2005, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Lewis Martin
Managing Director Seven Melbourne and Head of Network Sport
Lewis is Managing Director for Seven Melbourne. Born and bred in Melbourne, Lewis joined the Seven Network as a sales executive in 1994 and in 2008 was appointed Managing Director. In addition to the day-to-day running of Seven Melbourne, Lewis plays a leadership role in sports rights negotiations and broadcast management for the AFL, Horse Racing, and Tennis.
Lewis is a board member of the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal and the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, and is also an advisor to a number of not-for-profit organisations. He is also a board member of Racing.com and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Craig McPherson
Director of News and Public Affairs
Mr McPherson is responsible for Australia’s #1 line-up of news and public affairs content, including 7NEWS, Sunrise, The Morning Show, 7NEWS Spotlight, The Latest and 7NEWS.com.au.
One of Australia’s most respected journalists with more than 30 years’ experience in print and television, Mr McPherson has enjoyed a long and successful career in news and public affairs at the Seven Network and has covered some of the biggest local news events of recent times.
In 2016, Mr McPherson helped 7NEWS return to market leadership across Australia and in the capital city markets, with 7NEWS remaining #1 nationally for the past six years.
Under Mr McPherson’s leadership, Sunrise has maintained its leadership as the #1 breakfast show for the last 10 years and The Morning Show has been #1 for 15 years.
Bruce McWilliam
Commercial Director
Mr McWilliam was appointed Commercial Director of Seven Network Limited in May 2003 and has been a Director of Seven Network since September 2003, and a Director of SMG since December 2006. Mr McWilliam was a former Director of BSkyB, Executive Director News International Television and General Counsel, News International plc. Previously, Mr McWilliam was a partner of law firms Gilbert & Tobin, Turnbull McWilliam and Allen Allen & Hemsley specialising in media and commercial law.
Gereurd Roberts
Chief Digital Officer
Mr Roberts is the Chief Digital Officer of Seven West Media, having been appointed to the role in December 2019. He was previously the Chief Executive Officer of Pacific, the publishing and digital arm of SWM, and led the sale of the business to Bauer Media Australia in May 2020.
As Chief Digital Officer, Mr Roberts is responsible for the development, growth and innovation of SWM’s digital assets, as well as Broadcast Operations, Information Technology and Cyber Security. Alongside his current role, Mr Roberts is also the Chairperson of industry body ThinkPremiumDigital, and a Non-Executive Director of TX Australia/NPC Media and also Freeview Australia.
With a career in media spanning more than 20 years, Mr Roberts has also held senior roles across ACP and Guardian Media Group UK, and is a graduate of Columbia Business School.
Melissa Hopkins
Chief Marketing and Audience Officer
Mellisa Hopkins is the Chief Marketing and Audience Officer, responsible for driving audience numbers and growth across Seven West Media. Her portfolio includes brand strategy, consumer and trade marketing, audience research, promotions, publicity, social media and corporate communications.
One of Australia’s most successful and acclaimed marketers, Hopkins was previously Vice President Marketing CMO at Optus. In 2021, Optus was recognised as Australia’s strongest brand (Campaign Asia) and awarded ‘Marketing Team of the Year’ (Mumbrella).
With over 25 years’ global experience both agency and client side, Hopkins has deep consumer and enterprise experience across a wide range of sectors and high-profile brands, and in November 2022 was named #4 in CM050 2022, and in 2021 was awarded ‘APAC Marketer of the Year’ (Campaign Asia).
Hopkins is also a strategic advisor to the National Mental Health Commission and an advisory board member at ADMA.
Lucinda Gemmell
Chief People and Culture Officer
Lucinda Gemmell is the Chief People and Culture Officer, responsible for the human resources and employee experience across the Seven Network and Seven West Media (WA).
Ms Gemmell was previously Chief People and Culture Officer at air navigation service provider Airservices Australia, where she was responsible for the people and culture strategy and transformation, human resources, functional training, and industrial relations.
Before Airservices Australia, Ms Gemmell was Chief People and Culture Officer at Virgin Australia Airlines. She has also held senior leadership roles in HR, strategy and commercial management in ASX and multinational organisations including Woolworths, Diageo Asia Pacific and Fairfax Media.
Ms Gemmell holds an Executive MBA, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is also a Director of Starlight Children's Foundation Australia.
Angus Ross
Seven's Chief Content Officer, Entertainment Programming
Mr Ross, appointed Director of Network Programming in February 2012, is responsible for the commissioning and acquisition of all entertainment content across Seven West Media’s suite of channels – 7, 7TWO, 7mate, 7flix and 7plus.
Previous roles at Seven include Head of Program Scheduling and Acquisitions; Sydney Program Manager; Daytime Programmer and Head of Research.
Prior to joining Seven, Mr Ross worked for two years as a consultant for television research group Audience Development Australia.
Mr Ross holds a Bachelor of Business (Marketing), from the University of South Australia.