The Seven Network’s Director of News and Current Affairs and Seven West Media Editor-in-Chief Anthony De Ceglie addressed staff this afternoon regarding several key changes to the leadership team across the news division.
Mr De Ceglie announced the appointment of Sean Power to the role of Director of News for Seven Sydney.
Mr Power currently serves as the Executive Producer of Sunrise, Australia’s #1 breakfast program, under the leadership of Seven’s Director of Morning Television, Sarah Stinson.
In their time, Sunrise has solidified its dominance, consistently maintaining an unbroken streak in weekly ratings, both in metro and nationally, reaching more than two million Australians every week.
Mr Power’s appointment follows the decision by current Director of News in Sydney, Neil Warren, to step aside for family reasons.
With a broadcast television career spanning an impressive 44 years, the past 32 of which have been with Seven, Mr Warren has amassed a peerless body of work as a journalist, bureau chief, executive producer and news director.
In that time, he has covered countless history-defining news events including the death of Princess Diana, the London and Bali bombings, the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, Sydney and London Olympic Games, multiple Queensland elections and devastating weather events in the region including Cyclone Yasi.
Prior to his most recent stint as director of 7NEWS Sydney, Mr Warren devoted eight years to leading the 7NEWS Brisbaneand Gold Coastnewsrooms and was instrumental in the launch of Seven’s Gold Coast news in 2016.
Mr Warren will stay on for some time, to support the Sydney news team through the transition period. He will also help steer Seven’s news coverage of the Olympic Games.
Highlighting the depth of emerging talent within the newsroom, current Supervising Producer Jake Lyle will take on the role of Sunrise Executive Producer vacated by Mr Power.
His promotion follows the recent appointment of experienced broadcast and print journalist Holly Fallon as Executive Producer of Weekend Sunrise.
Commenting on the leadership changes, Mr De Ceglie said: “Sean’s time at Sunrise has been marked by incredible success and creativity. I can’t wait to see what he will bring to the all-important 6pm news bulletin.
“His appointment is part of ensuring that Seven has next-generational leaders in place ready for the future. The appointments of Jake and Holly likewise are further testament to this.
“Neil is extremely well-regarded by all his peers at Seven and across the industry,” Mr De Ceglie said.
“We’re sad to see him go but wish him all the best, and we’re grateful he will be sticking around for some time yet to ensure a smooth transition.”
Mr Power said: “The opportunity to lead the 7NEWS Sydney team in this next chapter is incredibly exciting.
“We have the best journalists, producers, cameramen and editors in the country, in a new state-of-the-art studio and newsroom, and we will continue to put our audience first when telling the stories that matter most to Sydney.
“It’s certainly not goodbye to Brekky Central. We’ll continue working closely with the team, breaking stories from Sunrise to sunset.”
Mr Warren said: “I’m extremely appreciative of all the opportunities and memories the network has provided me over many decades.
“Seven has been like a big family to me. But I know this is the right decision and now it’s time to give back to my own family in Queensland.”