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Former Channel Nine news director and 60 Minutes executive producer John Westacott has died aged 73.
Westacott, a giant of the Nine Network, died after suffering a suspected medical episode on Sydney Harbour at the weekend.
The avid sailor was pulled from the water in Vaucluse about 1.30pm on Sunday and could not be revived.
Westacott, who retired from Nine in 2009, is being remembered by colleagues as a 'journalist's journo'.
Michael Healy, Nine's Director of TV, and Darren Wick, Nine's National Director of News and Current Affairs released a joint statement following his death.
"John Westacott was a trailblazer of Australian journalism.
"The longest-serving and most successful Executive Producer of 60 Minutes, a driving force of A Current Affair and a visionary with Nine as the National Director of News and Current Affairs.
"Westy was an enigma. There was no-one like him. He didn't care about political correctness and would publicly declare that.
"He didn't care where you came from, nor about your gender, ethnicity or religious and political beliefs. He cared about whether you had the passion and ability to tell a great story.
"His lifelong love was 60 Minutes. He was fearless as he pushed his team to report some of the greatest stories and interviews Australians have ever seen. And he was ferocious in defending his team against any criticism – externally and internally.
"Westy had a laser-like focus and an incredible intuition on what 60 Minutes meant to
Australian viewers and what they wanted to see from the program every Sunday night.
"During his later years with Nine, as the Head of News and Current Affairs, he was the driving force behind bringing Peter Overton into the seat as the anchor of the Sydney 6pm News. He saw well into the future when others didn't.
"He understood the integrity and authenticity that Peter would bring to Nine News and set it apart from the rest. The fact that the 6pm Sydney bulletin has dominated the News for the past 12 years is a testament to the vision that John Westacott brought to Nine.
"He was no saint and had a devilish sense of humour and was a master of mischief.
"But he was a journalist's journo and always a generous source of knowledge and insight.
"Westy made Nine a better place. He was a big vision, big picture person who made us all reach for the stars and land on them.
"We will miss him," the statement ended.
Westacott is survived by his wife Cecile and two sons.
Source: 9News
