New exec team to share C4’s COO duties

UK terrestrial Channel 4 has decided to spread the duties of outgoing COO Anne Bulford between a new executive team.

Bulford is joining Tony Hall’s new look BBC in a board level role, leaving a gap at the top of commercial channel C4.

Her financial duties have now gone to Glyn Isherwood, currently finance director, who becomes group finance director and joins the executive board. Director of commercial affairs Martin Baker also joins the top team and adds legal and compliance roles to his duties. He will also head up IP exploitation arm 4Rights.

Keith Underwood, currently director of strategy, is now director of strategy and technology, while Jonathan Allen expands his role to encompass all revenue-generating activities.

“One of the great strengths of Channel 4 is the breadth of talent we have within what is a small organisation when compared to some of our competitors. We have always been committed to developing that talent, and last year introduced a programme specifically aimed at growing our senior managers to become leaders of the future,” said C4’s CEO David Abraham.

“With this in mind, I have reviewed how we work and I am delighted to be able to announce a number of changes which promote key staff to the executive team in newly created roles and expands the team of talented people we can bring to major creative and commercial decision making.”