Seven West Media (SWM) has announced that Channel 7 Perth managing director Mario D’Orazio has resigned.
D’Orazio has been the managing director of Channel 7 Perth since July 2011. He started his media career with WA Newspapers in 1979, joining the Daily News as a cadet reporter.
In 1987, D’Orazio joined Channel 7 Perth in 1987 as a reporter on local current affairs program State Affair – a show which discovered a lot of fresh young talent for Seven, including current SWM chief Tim Worner.
In the 1990s, D’Orazio moved behind the camera as the founding producer of Today Tonight in Western Australia.
SWM chairman Kerry Stokes said D’Orazio has played an important role in the company’s success in WA.
“Mario is a talented, hard-working executive who has been an important member of the team of Channel 7 Perth, ensuring its performance over many years,” Stokes said.
“As part of his role at Channel 7, I appreciate the enormous contribution he has made as a trustee of Telethon.
Worner said: “I have worked with Mario for most of my time at Seven and knew him since our Cadet days in Perth. [I] appreciate his contribution over the time at Seven Perth. We’re going to miss him.”
SWM’s chief executive for Western Australia, Maryna Fewster, said: “I want to thank Mario for his contribution to the team since I started in my role here. We wish him the very best.”
Commenting on his departure, D’Orazio said: “It’s with immense pride that I reflect on my time with Australia’s best media company.
“Seven is full of wonderful people who all work very hard to build deep connections in the community.
“Channel 7 has a long history of supporting the people of WA, and I am particularly proud of my time at Telethon, which has gone from strength to strength.
“We broke the $300 million barrier this year, and that’s fantastic. I’m looking forward to beating last year’s record total in 2019.”
