Seven appoints Majella Hay as director of content, unscripted

The Seven Network has appointed Majella Hay to the new role of director of content, unscripted.

Hay will report to Seven’s chief content officer, Brook Hall, and will work closely with the network’s director of production operations Andrew Backwell; director of content, scripted, Julie McGauran; and head of production Mandy Roberts.

Hay will head a team that includes head of reality Sylvia D’Souza, supervising executive producer Digby Mitchell and executive producer Ewa Dobrowolska. She will be responsible for the creative direction and content of Seven’s unscripted entertainment programs, and work closely with the Seven sales team to drive new revenue and integration opportunities.

Hay joined Seven as head of entertainment in June 2022. She had previously been head of entertainment at ITV Studios Australia for more than four years. Her resume also includes senior roles at Endemol Shine Australia, Nine Network, Network 10 and Southern Star.

Hall said: “As Head of Entertainment, Majella had led some of our biggest and most successful shows, including The Voice, Australian Idol, The 1% Club, Dancing With The Stars and The Chase Australia. Her talent and passion for making great content have made a real difference to our entertainment slate.

“Majella will now also lead the creative direction of key shows such as Farmer Wants A Wife, My Kitchen Rules, Better Homes and Gardens, the TV WEEK Logie Awards and Stranded On Honeymoon Island. I’m looking forward to working with her to take our unscripted content to even greater heights.”

Hay said: “This new role looking after all of Seven’s unscripted content could not have come at a better time. Our production team internally, and the production companies we work with, deliver exceptional shows and results. But we also have a fresh approach, to look at opportunities with our programs to go beyond what we have done before. To think differently. It’s about aligning and being smart about how we use our content to continue to entertain but also to benefit all parts of the Seven business.”

Her credits include The Voice, Operation Live, Beat The Chasers, This Is Your Life, Shark Tank, Love Island, This Time Next Year, Last Chance Surgery, Embarrassing Bodies Down Under, The Cube and The Great Australian Spelling Bee.