He has been described as a late-night email aficionado – and for good reason – and Bruce McWilliam’s shoes were always going to be difficult to fill. Few lawyers achieve the nebulous title of “commercial director”, but McWilliam got there at billionaire Kerry Stokes’ Seven West Media. His hands touched just about every deal (and media inquiry?) the network did.

Now we can reveal he has been replaced, albeit by someone with the far more mainstream title and responsibilities of general counsel. Seven chief executive Jeff Howard has lured Emma McDonald, a sharp legal operator and daughter of former ABC chairman Donald McDonald, to take on the role. She starts in September.