Former Woodside managing director Don Voelte, who is also currently a director of Seven West Media, has been appointed chief executive and managing director of the media company.
Current Seven West Media chief executive David Leckie will transition to a new role as executive director, media, at Seven Group Holdings.
"I am looking forward to this new role," Leckie said in a statement. "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."
Leckie guided the development of Seven West Media over the past nine years. In his new role at Seven Group Holdings, which has major shareholdings in Seven West Media, Consolidated Media and Prime Media, Leckie will continue to be involved in Seven's television business in an advisory and counsel role.
In a statement, Voelte said he loves 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."
Voelte's media executive team comprises: Tim Worner, CEO Television; Nick Chan, CEO Pacific Magazines; Rohan Lund, CEO Yahoo!7; Chris Wharton, CEO Seven West Media (Western Australia); and Kurt Burnette, chief sales and digital officer.
Seven West Media also reaffirmed its fiscal 2012 underlying trading earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) remained between $460 million to $470 million (subject to any year-end review and audit adjustments).