Jay Hunt appoints Ralph Lee to Channel 4 Deputy Chief Creative Officer

6 March 2014

Jay Hunt, Channel 4’s Chief Creative Officer has promoted Ralph Lee to be her Deputy Chief Creative Officer in addition to his existing role as Head of Factual.

 

In the new role, Ralph will deputise for Jay on creative decision making across all of the corporation’s channels and platforms and will lead on the development of major programme seasons.  He will also take responsibility for providing the strategic direction for short form content for Channel 4’s new 4Shorts brand – working closely with Head of Online, Richard Davidson Houston and his team who will commission the content.

 

Ralph will combine the new responsibilities with his existing role of Head of Factual – leading Channel 4’s largest commissioning team. Both David Glover and Nick Mirsky – who were recently promoted to the new roles of Head of Specialist Factual and Head of Documentaries respectively – will continue to report into him. 

 

As Head of Factual since 2011, Ralph has overseen commissioning across documentaries, arts, science, history and religion – responsible for a range of programming that has included 24 Hours in A&E, Gogglebox, Educating Yorkshire, The Murder Trial, Benefits Street, Cutting Edge, and The King in the Car Park.  He was previously Deputy, then Head of Specialist Factual at Channel 4, with a spell as Head of Factual at Channel Five in 2007.  Ralph started his career as a producer and director of documentaries. 

 

Jay has also confirmed a change in reporting lines for daytime commissioning. Commissioning Editor David Sayer has been promoted to Head of Daytime and will report to Head of Features Gill Wilson, reflecting the close relationship between daytime and features talent and brands.   Head of Formats Dominic Bird will continue to lead on peak time format commissioning for Channel 4 and will increase his focus around younger skewing programming – including E4 non-scripted commissions, and music and education commissioning.

 

Jay Hunt said: “Ralph is an exceptional commissioner and creative leader, running a team that has delivered hits like Education Yorkshire and Gogglebox.  We have been talking for some months about a new role for him at 4 and I am excited he will be working with me as deputy chief creative officer.”

 

Ralph Lee said: “Channel 4 is a unique organisation and I’m incredibly excited to be able to play a fuller role in shaping its creative and editorial direction and to support Jay in her role across the network.”

 

Ends.