C4 Sales client relationship roles to drive collaborative partnerships

Channel 4 today announced it is soon to appoint a team of four newly created Client Development Lead roles to forge long-term relationships with marketers and agency planners to enable greater collaboration on TV marketing strategies.

Integrated into the agency facing teams and reporting to London-based Agency Principals, Chris Braithwaite, Pete Clark, Angus Mitchell and Danny Peace, the new roles will seek to better understand clients’ business and marketing objectives to build deeper three way relationships with advertisers and agencies – to facilitate earlier and stronger briefs.

Spearheaded by Heads of Agency Sales, Matt Salmon and Damon Lafford, the creation of these new roles will help enhance wide ranging commercial partnerships that deliver advertisers innovative and creative campaigns to young, upmarket TV audiences – ultimately driving increased revenues and long-term business value to Channel 4.

Channel 4 has had a strong commercial start to 2015 which saw the launch of a series of new partnerships with blue chip brands across Channel 4. Every month across Q1, Channel 4’s saleshouse revenues were up YoY to finish Q1 up +13.00% YoY.

Key partnerships responsible for Channel 4’s Q1 commercial success this year so far include: Clipper Teas’ exclusive broadcast partnership with 4 launching with a premiere ad break and bespoke teaser campaign; Foster’s return to sponsor Comedy on 4 alongside new branded digital Shorts series for All 4; Domino’s two year sponsorship of Hollyoaks with additional licence and off-air activation opportunities; McDonald’s McCafe first of its kind contextual ad campaign across flagship Channel 4 shows; Samsung Home Appliances sponsorship Better Living across Channel 4 and UKTV; and O2’s partnership with All 4 featuring a unique premiere content deal for O2 Priority customers representing the biggest ever digital deal in Channel 4’s history.

Jonathan Allan, Director of Sales at Channel 4 said: “Our relative performance and the strength of the TV ad market in Q1 clearly demonstrates that TV, and particularly Channel 4 Sales, is still the best platform to effectively reach younger, aspirational audiences at scale.

“Establishing these new roles that can focus on major client projects will build upon our ambition to closely collaborate with clients and agencies to create far-reaching partnerships that deliver increased value and revenues for all parties.”

The roles are currently being advertised.