Stokes to retire as Seven West chair after merger deal
Kerry Stokes, the billionaire chair of Seven West Media, has signalled that he will step down as chair if the proposed merger with Southern Cross Media proceeds. The move would cap a long era of influence for Stokes, who has steered the group since taking a substantial stake in the Seven Network in 1995 and serving as chair of the company since 2008. The merger would unite Seven West’s television and news assets with Southern Cross Media’s radio networks, creating a national media group with a broad footprint across broadcast, streaming and publishing.
Under the deal, Seven West Media and Southern Cross Media would align operations, with SGH (Seven Group Holdings) stepping back from a larger ownership stake in the merged entity. The parties have said the combination would bring about meaningful cost savings, with estimates of about $25 million to $30 million in shared overheads and operating expenses. The financial and governance restructuring precedes a board refresh and leadership transition that would unfold in 2026.
Leadership transition and board refresh
Stokes will be succeeded as chair by the current chair of Southern Cross, Heith Mackay‑Cruise. Stokes also intends to remain engaged with the board and supportive of the chair’s leadership, stating, “I have every confidence Heith will continue to guide the combined group successfully. Following my retirement from the Board in February 2026 I intend to continue to support the Chair and Board wherever I can add value.”
Joining Mackay‑Cruise on the merged board will be Stokes’ son, Ryan Stokes, who has sat on Seven West’s board since 2012 and has led SGH as chief executive since 2010. The Seven West chief executive, Jeff Howard, will remain in the top role and will sit on the board, alongside two more Seven West directors and two appointees from Southern Cross.
The strategic merger would reduce Seven Group Holdings’ control from two‑fifths of the media business to roughly one‑fifth in the merged company, reflecting a broader shift toward a more jointly governed, cross‑media operation. The combination is still contingent on regulatory approvals, but it underscores a pivotal moment in Australian media consolidation.
What this means for the Australian media landscape
If completed, the merger would create a diversified entity spanning free‑to‑air television, radio networks, digital platforms and print assets such as The West Australian and the Sunday Times. Proponents argue the scale would bolster advertising pricing power, accelerate digital transformation and expand reach into regional markets where Southern Cross has a strong footprint. Critics, however, warn of reduced competition and potential tensions between metropolitan and regional content priorities. The leadership transition signals a new era for the merged group, with governance designed to balance Stokes’ long‑standing influence against a broader, more distributed board structure.
Optus outages and accountability in telecoms
In telecoms news, Communications Minister Anika Wells has pressed Optus’ parent Singtel to take full responsibility for recent network failures that disrupted triple‑zero calls. After meetings with Singtel group CEO Yuen Kuan Moon, Wells reiterated that Optus must be fully transparent as investigations by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) proceed. The government has called for external accountability and independent review of network plans to restore public confidence and ensure that emergency services remain reliable in future outages. The episode highlights ongoing scrutiny of Australia’s critical communications infrastructure alongside corporate leadership changes in media.
What happens next and why it matters
The merger remains subject to regulatory approvals, with a 2026 timeline for leadership transition already in view. The board and management changes — including Mackay‑Cruise’s chairmanship and Ryan Stokes’s entry onto the board — will be pivotal in determining how the merged entity navigates content strategy, regional coverage, and digital expansion in the coming years. For investors, employees, and Australian audiences, the key questions will be how the merged group aligns editorial and commercial priorities across platforms and how governance mechanisms safeguard competition and accountability in a rapidly changing media and telecoms landscape.
