Channel 4’s Katz Confirms New Appointments To Senior Commissioning Team

28 March 2024

• New commissioning team to deliver Channel 4’s ambitious Fast Forward strategy
• Steven Handley, Alisa Pomeroy and Ollie Madden appointed as new Heads of Department
• Kiran Nataraja expands role taking on editorial responsibility for Channel 4 Streaming

Channel 4’s Chief Content Officer Ian Katz has today confirmed the appointments of three key roles in his senior commissioning team.

Each of the Heads of Department will be tasked to deliver against the broadcaster’s recently announced Fast Forward strategy.

The ambitious strategy, announced by the publicly owned broadcaster in January, will reshape the organisation as it sets out to become a genuinely digital-first public service streamer.

Three newly appointed Heads of Department, Alisa Pomeroy, Steven Handley and Ollie Madden will take up the reins alongside existing editorial commissioning leadership team Pete Andrews, Louisa Compton, Sacha Khari, Viv Molokwu, Shaminder Nahal, Charlie Perkins and Jo Street.

Kiran Nataraja takes on the expanded role of Director of Streaming & Content Strategy, taking on editorial leadership of Channel 4 streaming, in addition to her existing responsibilities managing the TV channel portfolio and Programme Acquisitions.

Alisa becomes Head of Documentaries & Factual Entertainment, overseeing shows from 24 Hours in Police Custody to Gogglebox. Her recent stand-out commissions include the critically acclaimed Evacuation, multi-award-winning Jade: The Reality Star Who Changed Britain, BAFTA-nominated Jeremy Kyle Show: Death on Daytime, and a host of other successful documentaries including To Catch a Copper, RTS winning Partygate and recent smash hit, The Push, as well as one of last year’s nosiest launches, Banged Up.

Alisa has been Head of Documentaries since 2022. Prior to joining Channel 4 Alisa was the first series director on 24 Hours in Police Custody when it launch in 2014.

Steven Handley takes up the newly created post of Head of Reality & Entertainment. Steve has been in post as Channel 4’s Interim Head of Entertainment since 2023 and previously held the role of Commissioning Editor in Entertainment since 2018. He has a track record of commissioning hit entertainment shows in the reality, satire, and gameshow genres. As commissioning editor at Channel 4 Steve has commissioned shows including Tempting Fortune, The Bridge, Don’t Look Down, Sink or Swim, Jimmy Carr’s I Literally Just Told You & One Night In, and has overseen live comedy entertainment shows The Last Leg and Late Night Lycett. Prior to joining C4, Steve’s credits include Mutiny, Naked Attraction, & Dragon’s Den.

Ollie Madden will take on the newly combined role of Director of Film4 and Channel 4 Drama. Since joining Film4 in 2017 Ollie has overseen a slate including Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things and The Favourite, Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin, Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest, Rose Glass’ Saint Maud and upcoming Love Lies Bleeding, Andrew Haigh’s All of Us Strangers, Kibwe Tavares and Daniel Kaluuya’s The Kitchen,and Molly Manning-Walker’s How To Have Sex. Prior to joining Film4 he had built a reputation as one of the most respected production executives in the UK, with over 25 years’ experience of all aspects of production and development from both the UK independent sector and studio system, and across both TV and film, encompassing spells at Warner Bros. Pictures,Miramax and Kudos.

Katz’s leadership team will oversee seven commissioning hubs and will commission across digital and linear platforms and channels, focusing investment on distinctive, streaming-friendly British content.

The changes to the commissioning team are also designed to streamline the department and make it easier and quicker for indies to navigate.

Ian Katz said, “I couldn’t be more delighted that Alisa, Ollie and Steve are taking the reins in these key areas for driving our transformation into Britain’s first genuine public service streamer.

They are all hugely original creatives, inspiring leaders and collaborative partners who producers and creators love working with. Alisa is a singular talent who has been responsible for many of our most noisy and purposeful hits of the last few years. Steve is a tornado of creative energy and passion with a instinctual feel for what audiences want to watch. Ollie is a creative power house who has been at the heart of Film4’s extraordinary success and has a bold and ambitious vision for what Channel 4 drama can be.

I’m also thrilled that Kiran, one of the smartest and most forward facing thinkers about the evolving landscape of TV viewing, is taking on additional responsibility for Channel 4 streaming, alongside a soon to be appointed Streaming Business Director. This represents a key step in putting streaming at the heart of the Channel.

These changes, alongside a group of outstanding HoDs already in place, mean we now have an exceptional  group of creative leaders who will ensure that  Channel 4 remains the most exciting, creative, and innovative organisation to work with. We have adapted to evolving viewer behaviour and want to remain a trusted, relevant and loved brand for viewers for generations to come.

Ends

Note to Editors:

Channel 4’s Senior Leadership Team for commissioning editorial:

• Kiran Nataraja              Director of Streaming & Content Strategy
• Peter Andrews             Head of Sport
• Louisa Compton          Head of News & Current Affairs; Specialist Factual and Sport.
• Steven Handley          Head of Reality & Entertainment
• Sacha Khari                   Head of Digital Commissioning
• Ollie Madden               Director of Film 4 and Channel 4 Drama
• Viv Molokwu                     Senior Commissioning Editor
• Shaminder Nahal       Head of Specialist Factual
• Charlie Perkins:          Head of Comedy
• Alisa Pomeroy:            Head of Documentaries & Factual Entertainment
• Jo Street:                       Head of Lifestyle and the Glasgow Hub