Alex Mahon announces new Channel 4 executive team roles

22 March 2018

 

• Caroline Ross appointed Channel 4’s new Chief Human Resources Officer
• New Chief Product Officer to be appointed to lead digital product strategy
• Keith Underwood to be Chief Operating Officer; Jonathan Allan to be Chief Commercial Officer ; Sarah Rose to be Chief Consumer & Strategy Officer; and Lynette Huntley appointed Chief of Staff

 

Channel 4 Chief Executive, Alex Mahon today announced a number of new executive team roles to support the organisation’s ongoing strategy including the appointment of Caroline Ross in the new role of Chief Human Resources Officer and the creation of two new roles: a Chief Operating Officer, and a new Chief Product Officer role who will lead Channel 4’s digital product vision and strategy across the business.

In the new role of Chief Human Resources Officer, Caroline Ross will lead Channel 4’s people and HR functions across the organisation.  Caroline was most recently Chief People Officer at Moneysupermarket Group until December 2017 and has a wealth of experience in the media sector having previously been HR Director at Shine, at News International and talkbackThames.  Caroline joins Channel 4 on April 30th.  Head of HR, Stephanie Cox had already taken the decision to step down from the role to spend more time with her family.  In the interim she will take the role of CHRO then leave Channel 4 on May 2nd after a handover period with Caroline.

The new Chief Product Officer role will spearhead Channel 4’s drive into new digital areas, taking on responsibility for the All 4 online product and systems delivery as well as working with teams across the business to develop Channel 4’s digital capabilities. 

A new role of Chief Operating Officer has been created to lead Channel 4’s finance, workspace, operations and information systems teams.  Keith Underwood, previously Director of Strategy & Technology has been appointed to the role whilst a full recruitment process is undertaken for the appointment.  It follows the departure of Group Finance Director, Glyn Isherwood, who joined the BBC earlier this month.

Sarah Rose, previously Director of Consumer Insight, has been appointed Chief Consumer & Strategy Officer.  The new role brings together Channel 4’s strategy team with the audience and commercial research teams, as well as data science, into a new department – which will put the consumer at the heart of Channel 4’s strategy development.

Jonathan Allan, previously Channel 4 Sales Director, has been made Chief Commercial Officer with additional responsibilities for leading Channel 4’s 4 All the UK Nations & Regions strategy, including the pitch process for the new creative hub locations.

Lynette Huntley, previously Head of Planning, has been appointed to the new role of Chief of Staff in which she will retain her corporate planning brief and work to support Alex Mahon on priority projects as well as supporting Chair, Charles Gurassa and the Channel 4 Board.

The other members of the executive team remain: Director Commercial Affairs, Martin Baker; Director of Film4, Daniel Battsek; Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, Dan Brooke; and Director of Programmes, Ian Katz – all of whom continue to report directly to the Chief Executive.

Alex Mahon said: “Our leadership team comprises some of the industry’s leading commercial and creative innovators and these new roles will strengthen our strategic capabilities, especially as we develop further in digital. I’m incredibly excited to welcome Caroline to the team – she brings a huge amount of experience leading HR for global media and tech organisations and developing diverse talent.”

-ENDS-