'Our friendship remained until the end': Samantha Armytage pens a heartfelt tribute to TV legend David Leckie following his death aged 70
Samantha Armytage has shared a heartfelt tribute to TV titan David Leckie following his death aged 70 this week.
Posting to Instagram Stories on Tuesday, the former Sunrise host, 44, praised the late Channel Seven CEO for supporting her career over the years.
'I'm eternally grateful to Leckie. He (and Peter Meakin) employed me in 2003 as part of their huge turnaround of 7. And our friendship remained until the end,' she began.
'Our friendship remained until the end': Samantha Armytage, 44, has shared a heartfelt tribute to TV titan David Leckie following his death aged 70 this week
'We had lunch recently and he was so supportive of my career choices and excited for what lay ahead.'
Samantha, who coincidentally met her husband Richard Lavender at David's wife Skye's 60th birthday party, described Leckie as a 'legend of Australian TV'.
'He genuinely cared about making quality television and understood the medium better than anyone,' she wrote.
'We had lunch recently and he was so supportive of my career choices': Posting to Instagram Stories on Tuesday, the former Sunrise host praised the late Channel Seven CEO for supporting her career over the years
'He genuinely cared about making quality television': Samantha, who met her husband Richard Lavender at David's wife Skye's 60th birthday party, described Leckie as a 'legend of Australian TV'
Former Australian television executive David died at his home in the NSW Southern Highlands on Tuesday.
His wife Skye and sons Harry and Ben made the announcement in a family statement.
'With immense sadness we advise the passing of our adored and much loved husband and father, David Leckie,' they said.
Tragic: Legendary former Australian television executive David died, aged 70, at his home in the NSW Southern Highlands
'David passed away at Mulberry Farm, Robertson, after a long illness this morning. He was surrounded by his loving family.'
David was CEO of Seven until 2010, then Seven West Media until 2012, before becoming an adviser and leaving the company in 2016.
Before Seven, he led the Nine Network from 1990 to 2001.
Fame: David Leckie came to fame in an era when television network bosses were larger-than-life characters who could attract as much attention as on-screen stars. He is pictured with wife Skye and sons, Harry and Ben