Spotlight and Sunrise staff shuffle at Seven

Nathan Jolly

March 30, 2026 10:08

Spotlight and Sunrise staff shuffle at Seven

Former Sunrise producer Matthew McGrane has officially left Seven, after an accident, an unsuccessful compensation claim, alleges of misconduct, and a lawsuit

Former Sunrise producer Matthew McGrane has exited Seven, close to a year after he filed suit against his employer, claiming he was unfairly sidelined following an accident and an unsuccessful compensation claim.

McGrane, who uses a wheelchair, filed a Fair Work claim in 2023 after injuring himself while travelling home from Seven’s studio in Sydney.

The claim was rejected after Seven denied there was a formal agreement allowing McGrane to split his shift between the studio and home. McGrane then appeared on an episode of ABC’s Four Corners on Seven’s workplace culture, where he aired his grievances, and filed suit in April 2025, claiming the compensation, plus civil penalties.

His suit claimed his duties as a supervising produce on Sunrise were reduced after the accident, and he was overlooked for a promotion to be the show’s executive producer.

In response, Seven claims that while McGrane was on extended leave following the accident, it received a number of complaints from staff regarding his management style.

A legal filing made on behalf of Seven claims that Sunrise staffers complained that McGrane, “frequently exhibited aggressive behaviour, including swearing, shouting and harshly dismissing the ideas of other employees; belittled other employees if they made mistakes; was rude and disrespectful to other employees [and] made inappropriate comments about the appearance of presenters while they were on television.”

Producers working under McGrane allegedly stated they were “unwilling to be supervised by him”, as the way he spoke to them “made them feel unsafe”. Several young female producers claimed he “often left them in tears” and were “extremely concerned” at the prospect of McGrane returning to work.

An all-staff email sent on Friday afternoon by Seven’s HR boss, Rebecca Ackland, confirmed McGrane would not be doing so.

“I’m writing to let you know that after 24 years of service with the Seven Network, Matthew will be leaving us this week,” the email read.

“I want to pass on our thanks to Matthew and wish him all the very best for the future.”

McGrane had not been in the office since late 2023, but was still a Seven employee. His official exit came during the same week that Spotlight’s executive producer Gemma Williams left the current affairs program.

Gemma Williams is being replaced as Spotlight’s executive producer

Williams was poached from Nine’s A Current Affair in May 2024 to head up Spotlight as its executive producer. She was formerly the producer of Ben Fordham’s breakfast show on 2GB.

At the time, Seven’s then-news and current affairs boss Anthony De Ceglie said Williams was “a next-generation talent and part of a strategy to recruit young leaders to Seven”.

She will be shuffled into a newly created role in the Sydney newsroom.

Rahni Sadler, current 7.30 producer at the ABC and former Sunday Night reporter, will be returning to the network to head up Spotlight.