Browne's days were numbered at network
His boss, David Gyngell, was always going to be top dog at Nine and Browne's days have been numbered for a while.
Browne has been at Nine for more than seven years, having been recruited by former Nine boss Eddie McGuire. Browne, a lawyer, had previously been McGuire's agent. Browne's job will now become that of a part-time commercial adviser. His current role will disappear as his direct reports and Gyngell absorb most of his duties.
His skills were more in demand in the days when Nine was a conglomerate of media companies with numerous digital and magazine brands. It is a simpler television-focused company today where the big negotiated deals are around programming, such as the recently won right to televise Test cricket.
In the gossip-crazy world of TV there will be lots of speculation and spin around whether he was pushed or jumped, but realistically it was probably a bit of both. Nine is busy getting itself into lean working order for its ultimate stock exchange float and all excess salaries need to be thrown overboard.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
Jeff Browne was the managing director at Nine Network, a commercial lawyer recruited to Nine by Eddie McGuire and previously McGuire's agent. After more than seven years at the company, his full-time role has been removed and he will move to a part‑time commercial adviser position, with his direct reports and Nine boss David Gyngell absorbing most of his former duties.
The article says Browne's days were numbered because Nine now has David Gyngell firmly established as the top executive, and in a financially challenged TV industry it’s unsustainable to have two highly paid executives doing the same job. The company is slimming down ahead of its planned stock exchange float, so excess salaries are being cut.
According to the article, Browne will remain with Nine as a part‑time commercial adviser. His previous full‑time role will disappear, with most responsibilities taken over by his direct reports and by David Gyngell, indicating a reduced hands‑on leadership role.
The management trimming is part of Nine getting into lean working order ahead of an expected stock exchange float. For everyday investors, that signals the company is focusing on cost discipline — cutting excess executive salaries and simplifying its structure — which can be relevant when assessing Nine’s financial shape and future public listing.
The article explains that Nine used to be a media conglomerate with many digital and magazine brands, where Browne’s broader commercial skills were more in demand. Today it’s a simpler, television‑focused company where major negotiated deals are around programming (for example, the recently won right to televise Test cricket), reducing the need for Browne’s former full‑time role.
The article notes there will be gossip and speculation in the TV world about whether Browne was pushed or jumped, but realistically it was probably a bit of both — a mixture of company direction and personal choice as Nine streamlines ahead of its float.
Eddie McGuire recruited Jeff Browne to Nine. The article also notes that Browne, a lawyer, had previously worked as McGuire’s agent before joining the company.
The article highlights that the television industry is financially challenged and Nine is preparing for a public float by getting lean. That means excess salaries and duplicate executive roles are being cut — the company is intentionally reducing executive pay burden to improve its cost structure.
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