Channel 4 appoints Jonathan Allan as Sales Director

4 July 2011

 

Channel 4 today announces the appointment of Jonathan Allan to its executive leadership team and the Channel 4 Board in the post of Sales Director. Allan will report directly to Chief Executive David Abraham and becomes only the third person in the broadcaster's history to hold the position.

Currently Managing Director of OMD UK, a role he was promoted to aged 32, Allan will now be responsible for delivering circa £1bn in revenues, heading up an overall sales team of around 200 staff across Agency Sales, Airtime Management, Sponsorship, Ad Funded Programming & Product Placement, Future & Digital Media Advertising Sales and Strategic Sales.

Commenting on the appointment, David Abraham, Channel 4's Chief Executive, said:

"Jonathan is an outstanding leader with enormous potential and I am delighted to be welcoming him to the Channel 4 executive team in the role of Sales Director. He has achieved an impressive amount in his career to date, and has considerable client facing skills, as well as a track record in digital innovation. This is a crucial role at the heart of Channel 4's future strategy, and I am confident he will rise to the challenge. "

Jonathan Allan added: "I have worked with Channel 4 as both client and media partner for many years, so I am extremely excited to be given the opportunity to shape and direct the sales team to maximise its revenue potential. I've had a fantastic career with brilliant people at OMD UK, but I could not resist the opportunity that this role, brand and institution represents."

Jonathan joined OMD in 1995 as a graduate TV buyer and after five years in TV trading he was promoted to TV Director aged 26. In 2000, he broadened his remit to become Business Director for OMD UK, responsible for winning new clients and running a number of accounts including PepsiCo, easyJet and Gillette.

In 2005, Jonathan was promoted to Deputy Managing Director and worked closely on a programme to define and implement a new vision and ethos for the organisation. In addition he led and won a number of significant client pitches.

In 2007 he was promoted to become Managing Director for OMD UK, in this role he has defined the agency's future direction and broadened its offer expanding digital capability as well as launching marketing services, data planning and creative functions.

Jonathan replaces Andy Barnes, Channel 4's long-standing Sales Director who stepped down from the role in April, after 20 years of service.