Mark Llewellyn, the boss of Seven’s embattled current affairs program Spotlight, is in negotiations over an exit from the company after revelations about the tactics used to secure an exclusive interview with former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann.

The allegations, aired last week in the Federal Court, caused an internal war at Seven after former producer Taylor Auerbach was subpoenaed by Network Ten in its defamation defence against accused rapist Lehrmann.

A Seven spokesman declined to comment.

A senior Seven executive, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the talks, said Llewellyn was not at work amid negotiations about his departure between the company and his lawyer, John Laxon. “In the wake of the Taylor [Auerbach] scandal, he’s a dead man walking,” the executive said.

“He has appointed lawyers. The position is pretty untenable.”

Auerbach alleged in court company expenses were used for sex workers and cocaine, some of which Lehrmann was reimbursed for. Seven rejected this claim.

Lehrmann is suing Ten for defamation following an interview between former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins and former presenter of The Project Lisa Wilkinson in 2021, which he alleges identified him as the alleged rapist of Ms Higgins. He was not named. Justice Michael Lee will deliver his judgment on Monday at 10.15am.

Lehrmann’s ACT Supreme Court criminal trial for sexual assault was aborted in 2022 due to juror misconduct, with the charges later dropped over concerns about Higgins’ mental health. He has always maintained his innocence.

Auerbach told the Federal Court that Spotlight and its producers also paid for golf trips, expensive dinners and accommodation across a period of several months in an attempt to secure the two exclusive interviews, which aired in 2023.