Airey, Woolfe to leave Five

Dawn Airey and Richard Woolfe are to leave UK commercial broadcaster Five after new owner Richard Desmond culled its senior management team.

However, director of digital channels and acquisitions Jeff Ford will remain at the broadcaster and will become programme director.

This move, which will see seven of the nine directors leave the company, is part of a cost cutting drive by the Northern & Shell boss. It follows the purchase of the channel from RTL earlier this month for £103.5 million (US$159.4 million).

The change is expected to signify a move away from original programming and an increase in international acquisitions with Desmond reportedly set to invest around £300 million per year for three years for new content.