Nine exec Mott linked with ITV Studios post

The boss of Nine Network’s Perth base, David Mott, has been linked with the vacant ITV Studios Australia managing director role.

Local reports suggest Mott is in the driving seat to replace Anita Jacoby, who exited ITV’s Australian arm recently.

The Australian Financial Review reports Nine Entertainment CEO David Gyngell as giving Mott the go-ahead to discuss terms with ITVS.

Should he land the post, Mott would relocate from Perth to Sydney. He has been MD of Nine Perth since September 2013.

Mott was said to be one name touted to run Endemol Shine Australia before Mark and Carl Fennessy performed an about-face and decided to head the company after initially turning it down.

Previous ITVS Australia chief Jacoby exited earlier this month after two years in charge, with ITV Studios Global Entertainment executive VP, Asia Pacific Augustus Dulgaro taking on an interim MD post as a successor was found.

During Jacoby’s well-received tenure, ITVS Australia produced and launched shows such as Network Ten’s I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here (pictured) and blue chip factual series The First ANZACs, as well as a host of other formats and series.

She released a personal statement saying her exit was “a consequence of ITV plc restructuring its Australian leadership as a result of its increased foreign acquisitions, including Talpa Media”.

ITVS Australia’s head of entertainment, Hilary Innes, also left and recently joined Network Ten.