Channel Seven billionaire owner Kerry Stokes hosted a lavish lunch at his Darling Point home in Sydney on Friday for the top stars, amid ongoing struggles at the embattled TV network.
Several prominent reporters and executives from 7News arrived at the 84-year-old’s multi-million dollar waterfront mansion to enjoy a long lunch featuring delicious dishes prepared by renowned celebrity chef Guillaume Brahimi.
Among the attendees were 7News weekend anchors Michael Usher and Angie Asimus.
Usher, 54, looked sharp in a navy two-piece suit paired with a white button-up shirt, while Asimus, 39, exuded sophistication in a royal blue short-sleeved maxi dress with a pleated skirt.
Chatting with Asimus was Gemma Acton, who echoed other the other attendees’ looks with a dark blue, mid-length dress.
Spotlight star Liam Barlett, 63, and executive producer Gemma Williams, 25, also made an appearance, while Chris Reason, 59, and the newly-appointed Director of News and Current Affairs, Anthony De Ceglie, seemed to be in good spirits at the gathering.
Mark Ferguson, 58, arrived dressed in a collared shirt and khaki trousers, complemented by brown boots.
His 7News weekday co-host, Angela Cox, stepped out in a navy scoop-neck frock and paired it with beige closed-toe sandals.
However, several other notable stars from Channel Seven were notably absent.
Sunrise co-hosts Matt Shirvington and Natalie Barr were not present, as Barr is currently in Washington DC, covering the US election week, while Shirvington is reporting from the Sydney studio alongside Monique Wright.
Wright, along with Sunrise sport presenter Mark Beretta and weatherman Sam Mac, who flew to South Africa this morning, also missed Stokes’ function.
Additionally, The Morning Show co-hosts Larry Emdur, who won this year’s coveted Gold Logie, and Kylie Gillies were not included in the close-knit private lunch.
Stokes’ meeting with Seven’s elite occurs during a major reshuffle of roles and titles amid a ratings bloodbath.
Last month, Usher and Asimus were appointed co-anchors of the 6pm bulletin from Friday to Sunday.
Long time Seven journo Asimus will continue presenting the weather for Sydney’s weekly news with Ferguson and Cox at the desk.
It comes after Sharyn Ghidella’s replacement was been announced earlier this month after the beloved anchor made a controversial exit from Channel Seven in July.
Sarah Greenhalgh will step in as co-anchor of 7News Brisbane’s flagship 6pm bulletin, it was revealed in October.
Recently, several employees were laid off as part of Seven’s cost-cutting strategy.
Seven West Media slashed 150 editorial staff in a round of redundancies which claimed big names including Sharyn Ghidella and Queensland veteran weatherman Paul Burt.
Seven Network’s recently appointed news and current affairs boss De Ceglie has been replacing sections leaders across the country with younger managers.
He has also introduced a Friday night comedy spot and astrology to the news.
Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide all have fresh news directors, and new executive producers have been put in charge of Sunrise, Weekend Sunrise and Spotlight.
The network has also axed veterans Robert Ovadia, Andrew Frampton and seasoned Melbourne crime reporter Cameron Baud, who is known among friends as the ‘Harvester of Sorrow’ due to his grim news beat.
On the Sydney front, Ovadia – perhaps the most high profile of all the figures axed up until Ghidella’s – has announced he will take Seven to the Fair Work Commission for unfair dismissal.
