Nine Network Perth managing director David Mott resigns to lead ITV Studios Australia; Ray Wardrop to replace him as MD at Nine Perth

ITV Studios has appointed currently Managing Director of Nine Network, Perth and Network Program Executive, David Mott, to the post of Chief Executive Officer, ITV Studios Australia. Mott takes up his post in November and will report to Maria Kyriacou, MD ITV Studios Global Entertainment and Rest of World.

Mott will be replaced by well known Perth media professional Ray Wardrop. Wardrop (pictured below) is the former general manager of Channel Seven Perth, a role he undertook for four years before resigning in June 2012. Wardrop has had a long career in Perth media, including stints with The West Australian and Austereo. He joined Seven Perth as Programming & Communications Manager in 2003, and was the station’s General Manager from the end of 2008 until June 2011.

Before joining the Nine Network, Mott (pictured above) was Chief Programming Officer at Network Ten where he commissioned many hit programs including Big Brother, Australian Idol and Masterchef and led the brand repositioning of the station with a targeted content commissioning strategy. Prior to this, he held various senior roles at the Seven Network.

Mott will drive the strategy for ITV Studios Australia, build on existing successes and develop further opportunities for ITV Studios in the Australian marketplace. As part of his new team, Augustus Dulgaro has been appointed to the newly created role of COO, ITV Studios Australia. Dulgaro continues in his role as EVP, Distribution for Asia Pacific for ITV Studios Global Entertainment.

Kyriacou said: “David is an incredibly talented executive with unrivalled experience in production and broadcasting in Australia, coupled with a deep and detailed knowledge of viewers and hit programming. He is a fantastic leader with superb instincts, while Augustus has almost a decade of experience of leading ITVS GE’s Asia Pacific sales team to great success. They are a dream team for ITV Studios Australia and I look forward to welcoming David into the fold and seeing what they will achieve together.”

Mott said: “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to drive the ITV Studios business forward in Australia.  ITV Studios has an incredible reputation globally, and I look forward to playing my part in its continued success and growth.”

David Gyngell, Chief Operating Officer of Nine Entertainment Co said: “On behalf of everyone across NEC I extend a warm welcome to Ray. He brings a wealth of television experience – 14 years in the industry and 4 of those as the successful General Manager of Seven Perth. Ray’s a well-known and highly regarded figure in our industry with strong contacts across the Perth business and media community. He knows the turf, and we’re thrilled to have him at Nine.”

“Likewise I’d like to congratulate David Mott on his new role at ITV Australia. He has played a crucial role driving the successful rebuilding of Nine in Perth these past two years following its acquisition by NEC from WIN in September 2013. We are very grateful for his expert stewardship and wish him the very best.”

Mott is a Harvard Business School alumnus; a judge at Australian Film, Television and Radio School and in 2009 and 2010 was listed in the Top Five Media People in Australia by the Financial Review newspaper.