‘Mr Ambitious’ vs ‘Caesar’ ruling leaves Warburton waiting until 2012 for Ten start

James Warburton will not be allowed to take the helm at Network Ten until next year, a judge has ruled.

Warburton resigned from Seven in March following the sacking of Ten boss Grant Blackley. His original start date was announced as this July, but Seven went to court arguing that this would breach Warburton’s contractual commitments.

In today’s ruling supreme court judge Michael Pembroke said that Warburton would have to wait it out until Janaury 1 – but not until October next year which Seven had argued.  

Much of the case hinged on conversations between Warburton and Seven boss David Leckie, who called him “Mr Ambitious”, the court had heard.