James Warburton will be the next chief of Channel Ten, but not until 1 January 2012.
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| Pictured: James Wharburton, Ten’s Chief-In-Waiting. |
The ruling handed down by Justice Michael Pembroke at NSW Supreme Court this morning means Warburton, the former former group sales and digital boss at Channel Seven, will have to wait five months after his originally planned start date to become the new head at Ten.
Warburton was originally due to commence employment on July, 14, however Seven was looking to prevent this from going ahead until October 2012 next.
Channel Seven brought legal action against Warburton, following Ten major shareholder, Lachlan Murdoch’s, alleged poaching of the sales ace from under David Leckie’s nose at Seven, announced on March 2 last.
Seven argued Wharburton’s defection was ”contending the existence of employment and post-employment restraints,” a reference to his existing contract.
Ten denied it acted improperly considers and said the July start date was consistent with Mr Warburton’s employment obligations.
Warburton, as the network’s new CEO, will be taking over Grant Blackley’s spot, who got the sack earlier in the year following a disappointing earnings slump at the channel.
