Seven executive appointments

Channel Seven has made a number of changes to its executives in charge of programming, development and production that sees several top guns in the equivalent of musical chairs.

Lisa Fitzpatrick, who was exec producer on Better Homes and Gardens, It Takes Two, and Make Me A Supermodel will become Channel Seven’s new Head of Program Development.

Seven’s Head of Program Development Brad Lyons , who was in that role, has been appointed Program and Communications Manager, Melbourne. Graeme Hill, vacates that Melbourne role to become Program and Communications Manager, Sydney.

Dan Meenan who was instrumental in developing Border Security, becomes Seven’s Head of Factual Programming. Finally, Sonya Wilkes, series producer on The Outdoor Room with Jamie Durie, assumes the executive producer role vacated by Lisa Fitzpatrick.

“Channel Seven has again been able to recruit internally to fill senior executive positions within the programming and production departments,” Channel Seven CEO David Leckie said.

“Developing talented people within our structure is a high priority at Seven and a significant part of our winning culture.”

Press Release:
Channel Seven has today announced the following new appointments within its programming, development and production departments.

Brad Lyons has been appointed Program and Communications Manager, Melbourne, after tremendous success over the past eight years as Seven’s Head of Program Development. He has been behind the development and execution of many successful Channel Seven productions, including Dancing With The Stars, Deal or No Deal, My Restaurant Rules, RSPCA: Animal Rescue and most recently, Find My Family.

Lisa Fitzpatrick will move into the role vacated by Mr Lyons to become Channel Seven’s new Head of Program Development. Lisa has worked on projects spanning drama, comedy and infotainment, and been Network Executive Producer for shows including Better Homes and Gardens, It Takes Two and Make Me A Supermodel.

Graeme Hill has been appointed Program and Communications Manager, Sydney, after four hugely successful and productive years in the equivalent role at Channel Seven Melbourne. Graeme has previously been Program Manager at Seven Queensland and Seven Adelaide, and Head of Scheduling in Sydney.

Dan Meenan will become Seven’s Head of Factual Programming. In this new role he will oversee all of Seven’s factual programs and the creative development of new factual programs. Dan is Executive Producer and part of the development team behind some of the most popular factual programs to air on Australian television, including Border Security: Australia’s Frontline and The Force: Behind The Line.

Sonya Wilkes, who recently toured the world as series producer on The Outdoor Room with Jamie Durie, will step into the executive producer role vacated by Lisa Fitzpatrick. She will immediately take over as Network EP for Make Me A Supermodel and other key Channel Seven productions.

“Channel Seven has again been able to recruit internally to fill senior executive positions within the programming and production departments,” Channel Seven CEO David Leckie said.

“Developing talented people within our structure is a high priority at Seven and a significant part of our winning culture.

“These new roles will provide further opportunities for these outstanding people and will deliver results that will maintain Seven’s momentum in 2008 and the future.”