As Nick Falloon re-signs with the Ten network for another three years, yet another former Nine Network executive has confirmed there’s fame and fortune to be made after leaving the tender grasp of Kerry Packer and his PBL minions.

Hugh Marks, a former Nine lawyer and head of its Film and Television arm until 2002, will become executive chairman of Southern Star, the country’s largest independent production house now owned by Southern Cross Broadcasting. Marks has been chief executive of Southern Star and will take up the new role next month when current executive chairman, Neil Balnaves, retires. Marks started there midway through 2002 after working at Nine for seven years in the legal area then as chairman of Nine Films and Television, during which time he oversaw the production of various projects, including the movie Dirty Deeds, starring Brian Brown.

Marks was EP on the successful telemovie in 2004, The Alice, which was produced and written by former Nine executive, Robyn Sinclair. Southern Star produces the series of The Alice for Nine. Southern Star is something of a haven for former Nine people: the chief operating officer is Kim Anderson, a former senior executive at Nine in charge of digital and Kris Noble is EP of Big Brother and heads up Southern Star Endermol, which produces Big Brother for Ten.

Fiona Baker is EP of the series Forensic Investigators, which Southern Star produces for Seven. They have all joined the likes of David Leckie, John Stephens and Peter Meakin at Seven (along with reporter Anna Coren) and Nick Falloon at Ten (where he’s executive chairman), who have better jobs than they had at Nine.

Meanwhile, another PBL executive departed last week with a quiet announcement. Company Secretary Stephen Wright left and has been replaced by PBL lawyer and deal maker, Guy Jalland. Wright was a former Nine executive and moved across to Park Street several years ago when all the corporate functions were centralised there.