Ryan Stokes, chief government of SGH, has been appointed as the brand new chair of Southern Cross Media, Australia’s largest media conglomerate. The appointment follows the current completion of a big $400 million merger between Southern Cross Media and Seven West Media in late 2025. Stokes expressed optimism in regards to the firm’s future, highlighting a “clear alternative” for the newly built-in entity to proceed its mission of informing and entertaining audiences.
Management Transition at Southern Cross Media
The announcement on Monday confirmed that Teresa Dyson has stepped down from her function as non-executive chair. Mr. Stokes assumes the chairmanship with instant impact. Ms. Dyson will proceed her involvement with the corporate as a non-executive director and also will lead a newly established danger, regulatory, and compliance committee, underscoring the board’s dedication to sturdy governance.
Southern Cross Media said that this management alignment is designed to assist the corporate’s subsequent part of integration and efficiency enhancement. This transfer is complemented by the current appointment of Rohan Lund as managing director and chief government, alongside the implementation of a brand new administration construction and working mannequin. These strategic adjustments purpose to place the corporate for sustained progress and operational excellence.
A Mixed Media Powerhouse
The merger has created a formidable media group, bringing collectively a various portfolio of belongings beneath one umbrella. Seven West Media’s contributions embody the Seven tv community, outstanding Western Australian publications resembling The West Australian and The Sunday Instances, a group of regional newspapers, and a collection of digital platforms together with , Perth Now, The Nightly, 7plus, and The Sport. These are actually built-in with Southern Cross Media’s established audio manufacturers: Listnr, the Hit Community, and Triple M.
Ryan Stokes emphasised the power derived from this mixed platform. “With such a powerhouse platform of manufacturers behind it, there’s a clear alternative in entrance of Southern Cross Media,” he remarked. He reiterated the corporate’s core function: “The function we play to have interaction, inform and entertain our audiences, and to attach them with our clients, stays important to the communities we serve.”
Board’s Focus and Shareholder Returns
Mr. Stokes outlined the board’s main goal: to offer Rohan Lund and the administration crew with “the strongest attainable assist to execute and to carry the corporate to delivering on that potential.” He added that the board is “united on constructing a stronger, higher-performing group and on driving returns for all shareholders.”
Latest monetary maneuvers point out a powerful backing from key stakeholders. Australian Capital Fairness, the personal funding arm of Kerry Stokes, elevated its stake in Southern Cross Media final month by buying over 14 million shares. This acquisition, representing the utmost allowed 3 p.c improve, brings their complete holding to 23 p.c.
Making certain Board Independence
Cathy O’Connor, the lead unbiased director, commented on Ryan Stokes’ suitability for the chairmanship, citing his intensive government and media expertise and “a powerful file of supply.” To make sure continued sturdy governance and decision-making, O’Connor highlighted the measures carried out by the unbiased administrators. These embody the election of a lead unbiased director, sustaining a majority-independent board, establishing unbiased board committees, and appointing unbiased chairs to those committees.
“We’re happy the board has the independence it wants for the part forward,” Ms. O’Connor said, reinforcing confidence within the firm’s governance construction throughout this era of integration and progress.
Digital Progress Technique
Rohan Lund, in a current handle, detailed Southern Cross Media’s strategic path, emphasizing a big push into digital markets. This focus comes on the heels of a powerful 11 p.c rise in digital income, which reached $320 million for the 2025-26 monetary 12 months. This digital section proved to be essentially the most dynamic space within the firm’s first monetary reporting interval as a mixed entity.
Mr. Lund recognized the digital panorama as a considerable progress frontier. “It is a fairly large digital prize on the market. It is a $25 billion market and in the meanwhile we’re (barely) scratching that,” he noticed. He drew parallels with worldwide broadcasters in Europe, the US, and the UK which have efficiently developed methods to monetize their content material past conventional community broadcasting, suggesting the same path for Southern Cross Media.
Conclusion: A New Period of Integration and Alternative
The appointment of Ryan Stokes as chair marks a pivotal second for Southern Cross Media. With a strengthened management crew, a complete portfolio of media belongings, and a transparent strategic concentrate on digital growth, the corporate is poised to navigate the evolving media panorama. The emphasis on board independence and shareholder returns, coupled with the ambition to capitalize on the burgeoning digital market, units the stage for a brand new period of integration and efficiency for Australia’s largest media group.
