Analysis

The end of Seven West Media, but not of Kerry’s culture

Trading in Seven West Media is now suspended, ahead of the merger with Southern Cross Austereo. But the influence of the Stokes family will continue. This post is for Mumbrella Pro members. A version first appeared in the Best of the Week email

Tim Burrowes

December 27, 2025 10:19

The end of Seven West Media, but not of Kerry’s culture

Stokes: Will soon leave the Seven board

Christmas Eve closed a chapter in Australian media, with trading in Seven West Media stocks suspended ahead of the merger with Southern Cross Austereo which completes on January 7.

However, it’s not the end of the book. Seven’s culture existed before SWM, and may yet dominate the new business.

Attention has rightly focused on the fact that at the end of February, SWM chairman Kerry Stokes will retire. But at the age of 85, that was always going to happen at some point.

Four of the seven directors of the new company will still be from the SWM camp – his son Ryan Stokes, Seven’s CEO Jeff Howard, Perth telco business identity Michael Malone and lawyer Teresa Dyson. The three SCA directors – Heath Mackay-Cruise, Marina Go and Ido Leffler – will be outnumbered, even when Mackay-Cruise becomes chair.

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Tim Burrowes

Tim Burrowes is the publisher of Mumbrella and Unmade. He co-founded Mumbrella in 2008 and sister title Unmade in 2021. He's worked in the UK, Middle East, Asia & Australia and has specialised in writing about the communications world for the last 25 years. He wrote the book Media Unmade, published in 2021, and became the presenter of MediaLand on ABC Radio National in 2025.