Ryan Stokes, chief executive of SGH, has been appointed as the new chair of Southern Cross Media, Australia’s largest media conglomerate. The appointment follows a significant merger and signals a strategic shift for the company as it navigates its next phase of growth and integration. Stokes expressed optimism about the company’s future, highlighting a “clear opportunity” to continue informing and entertaining audiences.
Leadership Transition at Southern Cross Media
The announcement on Monday confirmed that Teresa Dyson has stepped down from her role as non-executive chair, with Stokes assuming the position immediately. Dyson will continue to serve on the board as a non-executive director and will also lead a newly established risk, regulatory, and compliance committee. This leadership alignment is designed to support the company’s ongoing integration and performance efforts, particularly following the recent appointment of Rohan Lund as managing director and chief executive, and the implementation of a new management structure and operating model.
Southern Cross Media’s current structure is the result of a substantial $400 million merger with Seven West Media, finalized in late 2025. This union brought together a diverse portfolio of media assets under one umbrella. Seven West Media’s assets include the Seven television network, prominent West Australian publications such as The West Australian and The Sunday Times, a collection of regional newspapers, and digital platforms including, Perth Now, The Nightly, 7plus, and The Game. These now operate alongside Southern Cross’s established radio and audio brands: Listnr, Hit Network, and Triple M.
Strategic Vision and Growth Opportunities
With this consolidated powerhouse of brands, Ryan Stokes believes Southern Cross Media is well-positioned for future success. “The role we play to engage, inform and entertain our audiences, and to connect them with our customers, remains essential to the communities we serve,” Stokes stated. He emphasized the board’s commitment to providing Rohan Lund and the management team with robust support to execute their strategies and unlock the company’s full potential. “The board is united on building a stronger, higher-performing group and on driving returns for all shareholders,” he added.
The strategic direction of Southern Cross Media is also being influenced by significant shareholding changes. Australian Capital Equity, the private investment arm of Kerry Stokes, recently increased its stake in the company by acquiring over 14 million shares, bringing its total holding to 23 percent, the maximum allowable increase of 3 percent. This move underscores a strong confidence in the company’s trajectory.
Ensuring Board Independence
Cathy O’Connor, the lead independent director, highlighted Ryan Stokes’ extensive executive and media experience, along with a proven track record of achievement, as key assets for his new role. To maintain robust governance during this transitional period, O’Connor confirmed that arrangements are in place to preserve the board’s independence. These measures include the appointment of a lead independent director, ensuring a majority of independent directors on the board, and establishing independent chairs for board committees. “We are satisfied the board has the independence it needs for the phase ahead,” O’Connor commented.
Focus on Digital Market Expansion
Rohan Lund, in a recent address, outlined the company’s intention to aggressively pursue growth within digital markets. This focus comes on the heels of a significant 11 percent increase in digital revenue, which reached $320 million for the 2025-26 financial year. This digital segment proved to be the most dynamic area in the company’s first financial report since the merger.
Lund described the digital landscape as a substantial opportunity, noting, “It’s a pretty big digital prize out there. It’s a $25 billion market and at the moment we’re (barely) scratching that.” He drew parallels with successful broadcasters in Europe, the United States, and the United Kingdom that have developed effective strategies for commercializing content beyond their traditional network offerings. Southern Cross Media aims to emulate this success by leveraging its expanded platform and diverse content to capture a larger share of the digital advertising and content market.
The company’s strategy involves capitalizing on its combined reach across television, radio, print, and digital platforms to create integrated advertising solutions and engaging content experiences. The integration of Seven West Media’s strong television presence and regional print operations with Southern Cross’s dominant radio and audio brands provides a unique competitive advantage. This synergy is expected to drive innovation in content creation, distribution, and monetization, particularly in the rapidly evolving digital space.
The leadership transition, coupled with a clear strategic focus on digital expansion and a commitment to strong corporate governance, positions Southern Cross Media to navigate the complexities of the modern media landscape and deliver enhanced value to its audiences and shareholders alike.
