Channel 4 appoints Sao Bui-Van as Communications Director

13 July 2021

Channel 4 today announced the appointment of Sao Bui-Van to the position of Communications Director.

Reporting to Chief Marketing Officer and I&D Director, Zaid Al-Qassab, Sao will lead Channel 4’s corporate PR, and content and programme PR teams as well as the corporate brand and events teams based in London and Channel 4’s new National HQ in Leeds.

Head of Corporate PR, Victoria Gillespie, Interim Head of Content & Programme PR, Sue Wilks, and Head of Corporate Brand & Events, Jason Hesse, will report to Sao.

Sao will also be responsible for leading the broadcaster’s cross-departmental communications network, working closely with Internal Comms and Policy & Public Affairs, to ensure coordinated communications across all stakeholders.

Most recently, Sao was Director of Communications for King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. During his tenure, he led the Trust's communications response to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the three major incidents in 2017. Previously he has held senior communications roles at The British Council, Viacom, English National Opera and the BBC, where he was part of the team that established the BBC's HQ in MediaCityUK, Salford.

Channel 4’s outgoing Director of Communications & Corporate Affairs James Macleod steps down from his role this month but will continue to advise Channel 4 as a consultant following the Government’s recently launched consultation on the future ownership of Channel 4 and review of public service broadcasting.

Zaid Al-Qassab, Chief Marketing Officer said: “I’m delighted to have someone with Sao’s breadth of experience joining Channel 4 and I’m looking forward to welcoming him to the team as we continue to deliver our Future4 strategy.”

Sao Bui-Van said: “Channel 4 not only plays a vital role in, and makes a significant contribution to, the creative economy of the UK but it also fosters and encourages positive social impact, creating opportunities and giving a voice to diverse communities across the country. I am thrilled to be joining such an inspiring organisation.”

Sao joins Channel 4 on 19th July as the corporate and content communications and corporate brand and events teams move into the expanded marketing and viewer experience division led by Zaid Al-Qassab, joining the All 4 product, audience integration, marketing, brand, media, continuity and social teams and the in-house agencies 4creative and 4Studio.  

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