Telecommunications industry veteran Michael Malone has joined the board of media giant Seven West Media as one of three new big-name non-executive directors.
Malone joins the likes of former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett to take a seat on the company's board.
He joins Seven West Media at a time the business is attempting to expand into an "integrated media company" offering, among other things, new channels for content delivery.
After leaving iiNet - the internet service provider he founded in 1993 - last year, Malone has dipped his toes into a number of new ventures.
He currently sits on the boards of two other ASX-listed businesses, network and satellite telecommunications service provider Speedcast and dark fibre provider Superloop.
Malone also last year invested in new IT security service provider Diamond Cyber, as revealed by iTnews, which offers a range of services that aim to bring the infosec “discipline, governance and leadership” found within the Australian Defence Force to the private sector.
He is an independent chairman at the company.
More recently Malone has been battling to keep the ISP he founded out of the hands of rival TPG, which has seen off numerous roadblocks in its effort to take over the company.
Malone criticised TPG's initial all-cash $1.4 billion offer as being against the best interests of shareholders and customers, and backed a competing all-scrip $1.6 billion bid by rival M2.
TPG has since upped its bid and is offering a combination of scrip and cash following negative feedback from shareholders. Its offer is now before the ACCC for approval.
