While McWilliam has resigned from his role,a Seven spokesman said the exact date of his departure is yet to be determined.
Stokes,who is Seven’s controlling shareholder,said McWilliam has been an excellent executive across his time at Seven,involved in all major corporate initiatives across the period. He was also a director at Stokes’ Seven Group Holdings conglomerate,which owns companies such as Caterpillar dealer WesTrac and industrial-equipment hire company Coates.
“I thank Bruce for his significant contribution to Seven West Media and Seven Group Holdings and wish him and[his wife] Nicky all the best in the future,” Stokes said.
McWilliam played a crucial role in the company’s defence of former SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith after he suedThe Age,The Sydney Morning Herald andThe Canberra Times for defamation over a series of articles alleging that he had committed war crimes while on tour in Afghanistan.
Stokes financially backed Roberts-Smith,who was employed by the Seven Network as general manager of its Queensland operations,via his private company ACE throughout the case.
A judge ruled in favour of the newspapers in June last year,with an appeal from Roberts-Smith ongoing.