Channel 4 appoints Richard Davidson-Houston as Head of Online

Richard Davidson-Houston, Head of Online

Channel 4 has announced the appointment of Richard Davidson-Houston in the newly created role of Head of Online.

Davidson-Houston, who was previously Head of Online Products, has been given responsibility for all Channel 4's online propositions and commissioning.  He will work across Channel 4 to identify and deliver online experiences that distribute and amplify our core television output and support Channel 4's key purposes.

His appointment, which takes place with immediate effect, will see Davidson-Houston report directly to acting Chief Creative Officer Julian Bellamy.  A key part of his role will be to continue to develop the strategic and creative vision for Channel 4 online across all its various outputs.  

The new role forms part of the restructure announced by Channel 4's Chief Executive David Abraham last month which will see all Channel 4‘s commissioning and creative activities combined into a single cross platform content division for the first time.  Channel 4 Online Products, Cross-Platform Commissioning, 4iP and Education will all report to Davidson-Houston under his new role.

Commenting on his appointment, Bellamy said: "In his time at Channel 4 Richard has had a huge impact on Channel 4's online activities and he was responsible for the highly successful re-launch of Channel 4.com last year.  His appointment signals our ambition to continue to take the lead in brilliant, award-winning cross-platform initiatives and I'm delighted he will be joining our enlarged commissioning team."

Richard Davidson-Houston added: "Channel 4 has some fantastically talented individuals who have been responsible for some of the most talked about online propositions of the last few years. Aside from the great success of Channel4.com and 4oD, we are rightly applauded for the creativity and innovation behind digital commissions such as Embarrassing Bodies Online, Battlefront, 1066 and Such Tweet Sorrow. I'm looking forward to enabling the team to work together more effectively in order that we can have even greater impact."

Richard joined Channel 4 in 2007 tasked with turning what was then ‘New Media' from an activity into a business.  He was responsible for the relaunch of Channel4.com as the home of Channel 4's programmes and 4oD and, in doing so, transformed its fortunes.  Prior to joining Channel 4, Richard was with Microsoft for five years becoming Business Manager of MSN / Windows Live in the UK. He has worked in the digital sector since 1995, founding two agencies himself and consulting to some of the world's best known brands.