"That's outrageous," thundered Seven West chairman Kerry Stokes on the group's half-year results conference call on Wednesday. "How dare you," he said as the share price plunged as much as 7 per cent after the disappointing result.
More BusinessDay Videos
- Video duration
- 01:37
Kerry Stokes surprises journalists
Kerry Stokes surprises journalists
Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes takes part in a half-year results call dominated by questions about CEO Tim Worner and ex-employee Amber Harrison.
Up Next
Telstra posts profit slump
- Video duration
- 01:20
- Video duration
- 01:20
Telstra posts profit slump
Telstra posts profit slump
Increased competition in the mobile space is being blamed for Telstra's half-year profit slump.
Up Next
'Reshoring' US manufacturing jobs?
- Video duration
- 01:56
- Video duration
- 01:56
'Reshoring' US manufacturing jobs?
'Reshoring' US manufacturing jobs?
The US has serious problems with recruiting, training and retaining suitable factory workers. Michael Pascoe explains.
Up Next
Aussie dollar surges past US77c
- Video duration
- 00:36
- Video duration
- 00:36
Aussie dollar surges past US77c
Aussie dollar surges past US77c
The Australian dollar clears the US77c mark, its highest since the US election. Vision courtesy: ABC News 24.
Up Next
Unemployment rate drops
- Video duration
- 01:21
- Video duration
- 01:21
Unemployment rate drops
Unemployment rate drops
January's jobless figures fell to 5.7 per cent despite a fall in full-time jobs. Video courtesy ABC News 24.
Up Next
'They blackmail us': Domino's boss
- Video duration
- 01:12
- Video duration
- 01:12
'They blackmail us': Domino's boss
'They blackmail us': Domino's boss
Domino's CEO Don Meij blasts franchisees who have underpaid 2,400 workers by $4.5 million as "criminals".
Up Next
Did Scott Morrison announce a revolution?
- Video duration
- 02:08
- Video duration
- 02:08
Did Scott Morrison announce a revolution?
Did Scott Morrison announce a revolution?
The mob who made an art form out of chanting âno new taxesâ is now saying it will need to increase taxes. Michael Pascoe comments.
Up Next
Wesfarmers half-year mixed bag
- Video duration
- 01:42
- Video duration
- 01:42
Wesfarmers half-year mixed bag
Wesfarmers half-year mixed bag
The retail giant reported strong results from Bunnings, Kmart and Officeworks, but a decline in earnings from Coles and Target.
Kerry Stokes surprises journalists
Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes takes part in a half-year results call dominated by questions about CEO Tim Worner and ex-employee Amber Harrison.
The media were only allowed 15 minutes to ask Mr Stokes and Seven boss Tim Worner questions about the sex scandal, which has engulfed the network for months now. But it was worth the wait.
The question did not even relate directly to the affair between former staffer Amber Harrison and Mr Worner.
Related Content
It related to another woman, and the unexplained circumstances of her departure from the media company.
More specifically, the sudden resignation of company director Sheila McGregor from the board earlier this month on the eve of its announcement that an investigation had effectively cleared Mr Worner of any wrongdoing.
Had she had been instructed by her fellow board members to keep silent on the matter?
"That's outrageous," Stokes fumed. "How dare you!"
Having scolded the reporter asking the question, the billionaire pointed out that McGregor had played an important role in setting up the investigation, and as to her resignation, "The reason remains between her and I," Stokes said.
It is not a satisfactory answer given the turmoil at Seven West.
"I interpret [the resignation] as being a discomfort either with the lack of transparency around the release of the [investigations firm] Allens report or some other aspect of the process the board had undertaken," Paul Redmond, a law professor and associate director of the Centre for Corporate Governance at the University of Technology Sydney, told Bloomberg.
Sitting besides Mr Worner on the conference call, Mr Stokes also said his chief executive officer "continues to have the full confidence of the board" and praised the way Mr Worner has handled himself since the company became aware of the affair in 2014.
"At the time it arose, I told him he must have nothing to do with this issue and the people involved. And that's why he's been able to focus on what he's done," said Mr Stokes, speaking of Seven's industry leading results.
Mr Worner also addressed the issue. He referred to Ms Harrison as a "former employee" and said: "I have apologised for what did happen and do not want to give any more oxygen to things that did not happen."
Mr Stokes did not hold back when it came to what he thought of Ms Harrison and the barrage of allegations she has made against the boss of Australia's top television network.
"The facts of the matter are there were significant amounts of our money taken by her," said Mr Stokes.
He also expressed dissatisfaction that the board had had to launch another investigation into "irrelevant allegations that have no substance at all".
Ms Harrison is effectively gagged from making any sort of reply to Mr Stokes' comments after the company obtained an interim court injunction on Monday. It stops Ms Harrison from releasing documents the network says she has no right to hold, access or release.
Ms Harrison is expected to respond when the matter goes before the NSW Supreme Court next week.
Follow CBD on Twitter.
Got a tip? ckruger@fairfaxmedia.com.au