David Leckie

Australian media executive (1951–2021)

David Leckie

CEO of Nine Network
In office
1990–2001
CEO of Seven West Media
In office
2003–2012
Personal details
Born| (1951-05-04)4 May 1951
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died| 20 July 2021(2021-07-20) (aged 70)
Robertson, New South Wales, Australia
Spouses|

Barbara Spence

(m. 1978)​

Skye McLeod

(m. 1995)​

Children| Timothy Leckie, Harry Leckie, Ben Leckie
Parent(s)| Ron and Joyce Leckie
Education| Newington College
Macquarie University
Occupation| Media executive

David John Leckie AM (4 May 1951 - 20 July 2021) was an Australian media manager, best known as a network television executive. Leckie was the chief executive officer of the Network Nine between 1990 and 2001 and Seven West Media from 2003 to 2012.[1] Afterwards he was for four years an executive director at Seven Group Holdings, which holds investments in Seven West, earthmoving company WesTrac and the Agricultural Bank of China.[2]

## Early life and education

[edit]

Leckie was born in Sydney[3] on 4 May 1951.[4] His father, Ron, was head of the transport division at Unilever having served in the Royal Australian Air Force's 31st Squadron from 1942-1946[5] where he met his mother Joyce, who served in the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force.[6][7] He was their first child,[3] and he had two brothers, Stuart and Ian.[4] Leckie was raised in the Upper North Shore in the suburb of Pymble.[7] In 1962 he commenced as a student at the Killara Preparatory School of his father’s alma mater Newington College and graduated from the senior school in 1968.[8] He then studied at Macquarie University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in economic and financial studies. Afterwards he travelled around Europe, where he also worked for Saatchi & Saatchi in London.[7]

## Career

[edit]

Leckie joined in 1977 the Melbourne branch of Nine, GTV9, where he was network sales manager. From there he rose to network sales director of TCN9 in Sydney, chief executive on TCN9 and thereafter GTV9 in Melbourne. In August 1990 he became successor of Sam Chisholm as managing director of the Nine Network, which was then owned by Alan Bond. After Bond's bankruptcy in 1992 the network returned under the ownership of Kerry Packer. The network then attracted about one-third of Australia's TV audience and roughly 40% of network advertising revenue, which was 400 million dollars in 1988-89.[9] Leckie focused on news and sports and under his leadership the network spent all but six weeks atop the television ratings for the next decade. Nine's dominance over its rivals began to diminish in 2001, when the new ratings system OzTAM, the implementation of which he was instrumental, was established. In January 2002 he was dismissed.[7][10] He was succeeded by John Alexander and Ian Johnson, who took Nine back to the lead inside six months.[11]

In January 2001 he was appointed for a four-year period as a trustee of the Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust.[12]

Leckie joined the Seven Network in April 2003 at the invitation of Kerry Stokes. He was joined by former Nine program director John Stephens and former Nine head-of-news Peter Meakin. Although it struggled during his first several months at the helm – culminating with a 13-year low in audience share in 2004 – the network's fortunes rebounded after it agreed an output deal with the Walt Disney Company. This enabled Seven to broadcast popular American shows in 2005, such as Desperate Housewives and Lost. A key part of Leckie's success was differentiating the network from Nine, appealing instead to a more casual, suburban audience.[7] He resigned as CEO of Seven West Media in 2012, but continued advising the company for four years.[13][14] He was brought out of retirement in March 2020 to serve as an executive mentor, including to his protege James Warburton.[3][7]

## Personal life

[edit]

Leckie's first wife was Barbara Spence (1978-1995).[7] They had a son named Tim.[4] Leckie married his second wife, Skye, in 1995. They met while she was public relations chief at David Jones, and they remained married until his death. Together, they had two children, Harry and Ben.[7][14]

Leckie cut his finger in a garage door in 2008.[3][7] This injury led to sepsis, resulting in his being placed in an induced coma at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney.[7] His health did not completely recover from that infection,[13] and he later scaled back on his engagements in order to recuperate.[7][15]

Leckie died surrounded by family on the morning of 20 July 2021 in Robertson, New South Wales. He was 70 and had suffered from a lengthy illness prior to his death.[3][14]

After his death, Leckie was posthumously appointed Member of the Order of Australia in the 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours for "significant service to the broadcast media through executive roles".[16]

## References

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1. ^ Who's Who in Australia (Crown Content Melb, 2007), p. 1224: "Leckie, David John (1951–)"
2. ^ "AAP, Seven West appoints new boss", Yahoo! Finance Australia.
3. ^ a b c d e "David Leckie, one of Australia's former leading television executives, dies aged 70". ABC News. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
4. ^ a b c de Ruyter, Troy (20 July 2021). "Legendary TV boss David Leckie dies at the age of 70". The Sunday Times. Perth. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
5. ^ "Ron Leckie". 31 Squadron Association. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
6. ^ "The Post, Anzac Day, a day to remember". Hong Kong Post. 25 April 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Samios, Zoe; Steffens, Miriam (20 July 2021). "'Big Wave (Dave)': Vale David Leckie 1951–2021". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
8. ^ Newington College Register of Past Students 1863–1998 (Syd, 1999) pp 115
9. ^ Lea Wright: "Leckie tries on a size nine", Sydney Morning Herald, 30 August 1990.
10. ^ Former Seven and Nine boss David Leckie dies aged 70 Mumbrella 20 July 2021
11. ^ David Dale: "Nine on top after Leckie sacking but Ten wins 16-39s", Sydney Morning Herald, 16. July 2002
12. ^ Wu, Crystal (20 July 2021). "Legendary TV executive David Leckie dies aged 70". Sky News Australia. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
13. ^ a b Hornery, Andrew (20 July 2021). "'Last of the rock star CEOs': Television boss David Leckie dead at 70". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
14. ^ a b c "'Television giant': former Nine and Seven executive David Leckie dies aged 70". The Guardian. London. Australian Associated Press. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
15. ^ Hornery, Andrew (16 April 2008). "Seven chief in induced coma". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 April 2008.
16. ^ "Queen's Birthday 2022 Honours - the full list". Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment Co. 12 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.

*[m.]: married