John Westacott

Former Nine News boss John Westacott, who was once executive producer of 60 Minutes & A Current Affair, has died.

But he was a journalist’s journo and always a generous source of knowledge and insight. “He understood the integrity and authenticity that Peter would bring to Nine News and set it apart from the rest. He was fearless as he pushed his team to report some of of the greatest stories and interviews Australians have ever seen. Nine’s Director of News and Current Affairs Darren Wick and Head of Television Michael Healy said in a joint statement, “John Westacott was a trailblazer of Australian journalism. “Westy was an enigma. He returned as a consultant under then CEO David Gyngell, but wrapped up during a range of redundancies in 2012.

The longest-serving executive producer of 60 Minutes, 'didn't care about political correctness', colleagues say.

But he was a journalist’s journo and always a generous source of knowledge and insight.” “He understood the integrity and authenticity that Peter would bring to Nine News and set it apart from the rest,” Wick and Healy said. Westacott was a former journalist at the Daily Telegraph and the Australian newspaper. He cared about whether you had the passion and ability to tell a great story.” He was ferocious in defending his team against any criticism – externally and internally. He had retired after 25 years with the network in 2009.

The man who died after falling from a boat in Sydney Harbour on Sunday afternoon has been identified as John Westacott, the former head of news and current ...

“If he could combine the two he would be in seventh heaven - in fact, he did. Mr Westacott was a powerful figure at Nine for more than two decades. Once sailing his little yacht in the treacherous Sydney to Hobart with Charles Wooley as both seasick deckhand and 60 Minutes reporter. “Westy made Nine a better place. “Westy was an enigma. There was no-one like him.

Westacott, a former 60 Minutes executive producer and Nine Network director of news and current affairs, died after falling near Neilson Park, Vaucluse, about ...

“Westy made Nine a better place. He didn‘t care about political correctness and would publicly declare that. (He was) taken to shore where he was treated by …

Australian television legend John Westacott has been identified as the person who suffered a medical episode and died on Sydney Harbour on Sunday.

But he was a journalist’s journo and always a generous source of knowledge and insight. “Westy made Nine a better place. “Westy was an enigma. There was no-one like him. Mr Wick and Mr Healy said Mr Westacott was “fearless as he pushed his team” to cover some of the biggest stories over the past decade adding he was a driving force in bringing Overton to anchor the 6pm news. 25+ news channels in 1 place.