Ray Wardrop stepping down as managing director of Channel Nine in Perth

Channel Nine Perth MD Ray Wardrop (left) has announced his resignation and will leave the station at the end of January next year.

He has been in the role for two years, having taken over from David Mott in September 2015.

He said he was leaving to spend more time with wife Karen, and their very successful retail business, and indulging their passion for travel.  

Wardrop is one of Perth’s most widely experienced media figures, having also worked at The West Australian and in radio with Austereo before moving into television. A former GM of Channel Seven Perth from 2008 – 2011, Wardrop said he wasn’t considering getting back into television when he was tapped for the Nine role – an offer he couldn’t refuse.

“Just over two years ago I was approached by one of the legends of Australian television, David Gyngell, to see if I wanted to be part of and oversee the relocation of Channel Nine into the city. While I wasn’t even contemplating getting back into the TV business, I thought how many people in Australia have been offered a gig like that.

“Fast forward to now and I can look back with huge pride at an awesome period in my career, where I got to work with an amazing bunch of people that were all part of TV history in this state. Together, we transitioned into the most modern television facility in the country.

“I cannot speak highly enough of the company that I work for and all the people at Nine. Their management are truly authentic and superb people who empowered me to manage Nine in Perth and who are also very understanding of my decision to leave.” 

It’s the second senior departure from the station, following Sales Director Kate McMahon’s impending move to Seven West Media (WA) as Chief Marketing Officer.