Superstar Sunrise executive ‘axed’ as Seven sets out to save costs worth $60million

He was the superstar Seven executive who led Sunrise to the top of the breakfast TV ratings.

And now Michael Pell has been axed from Seven according to insiders, as network management cuts $60million in costs.

Pell, 40, was promoted by the network to a ‘talent scout’ role based in Los Angeles when he left Brekkie Central in 2022 after 11 years.

According to the Australian Financial Review on Monday, two sources at Seven have revealed that Pell was fired ‘some time ago’.

However, network management has not confirmed the report and Pell’s social media lists his Seven job title: ‘Senior Vice President, Entertainment Content, North America’.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Seven for comment. 

The news comes amid reports the top-rating network has made several high-flying management roles redundant in order to make $60 million worth of cuts.

Pell, considered one of Seven’s most valuable assets, left his job as executive producer at Sunrise in April, 2022.

He then took up a new position with the network in LA, as a ‘talent scout’ aiming to source new formats. 

Pell oversaw an extraordinarily successful period for Sunrise – Australia’s No. 1 breakfast show – since replacing Adam Boland as EP in 2010.

He is credited with helping the program, then anchored by Natalie Barr and David Koch, extend its lead against arch-rival, Nine’s Today show.

For his last day at Sunrise, almost exactly two years ago, hosts Natalie Barr and David ‘Kochie’ Koch bid farewell the much admired executive an emotional farewell.

Pell did not appear on screen, despite having done so when he celebrated 10 years at the helm in November 2020, with Sunrise instead airing a photo slideshow. 

Several behind-the-scenes photos were shown, including snaps of Pell schmoozing with A-list celebrities and posing with the presenters at Brekky Central. 

It comes after TV Tonight reported that Sean Power was announced as executive producer of Sunrise last November, while Sarah Stinson remains Director of Morning Television.