Channel 4 chief government Alex Mahon to step down after almost eight years | Channel 4

[ad_1] The chief government of Channel 4, Alex Mahon, is to step down after eight years and can depart the broadcaster in the summertime.

Throughout her tenure Mahon, who joined in 2017 as the primary feminine CEO within the broadcaster’s four-decade historical past, helped battle off an try to privatise Channel 4.

The 51-year-old, who confronted criticism when she took dwelling the largest pay packet of any chief government in Channel 4 historical past, can be changed on an interim foundation by the chief working officer, Jonathan Allan.

“She has been one of the vital impactful chief executives since Jeremy Isaacs’ founding of Channel 4 greater than 42 years in the past,” stated Daybreak Airey, interim chair on the broadcaster.

Potential candidates for the highest job embody Allan, who utilized and misplaced out to Mahon final time spherical, and the broadcaster’s chief content material officer, Ian Katz.

Externally, the function is more likely to pique the curiosity of Apple’s European artistic boss, Jay Hunt, who had been the favorite to take over from outgoing chief government David Abraham in 2017.

Hunt, who was chargeable for poaching The Nice British Bake Off from the BBC, nonetheless one among Channel 4’s largest exhibits, resigned because the broadcaster’s chief artistic officer days earlier than the Mahon was introduced as its new chief government.

In her time on the helm Mahon navigated Channel 4 by means of the pandemic, though was criticised as bosses and employees took dwelling thousands and thousands in bonuses amid talks with the federal government about tapping a £75m credit score facility to climate the coronavirus shutdown.

Different high-profile incidents throughout her tenure have included the menace to evaluate Channel 4’s broadcasting remit in 2019 after the channel determined to switch then prime minister Boris Johnson with a melting ice sculpture throughout a local weather change debate.

Extra just lately, Mahon has been addressing the fallout from accusations made in opposition to Russell Model when he made exhibits for Channel 4 within the noughties.

Final 12 months, the broadcaster moved to chop employees numbers by 240 within the largest spherical of layoffs in 15 years, having suffered the steepest proportionate fall in revenues in its historical past in 2023.

Mahon had paved the best way for deep cost-cutting – together with transferring to promote Channel 4’s London headquarters of 20 years . She advised a committee of MPs that the TV business was dealing with the worst promoting downturn because the 2008 monetary disaster, describing it as “market shock territory”.

Massive cuts to Channel 4’s content material finances, and pausing some recommissions, put extreme pressure on the a whole bunch of impartial producers reliant on Channel 4.

A backlash from the business resulted in Channel 4 bosses “deferring” retention bonuses, loyalty funds meant to be in recognition of their dedication throughout the federal government’s aborted plans to privatise the broadcaster.

Mahon and Allan subsequently accepted the funds, value a whole bunch of 1000's of kilos, whereas Katz declined.

As a part of Channel 4’s profitable defence in opposition to privatisation Mahon promised to considerably improve the broadcaster’s presence exterior London.

The broadcaster has a “nationwide headquarters” in Leeds – and artistic hubs in Bristol and Gasgow – with worker numbers within the “nations and areas” on monitor to achieve 600 this 12 months.

Mahon has additionally led a strategic shift to maneuver Channel 4 away from its historic dependence on the declining conventional TV advert market.

Whereas the state-owned, commercially funded broadcaster nonetheless depends on promoting for about 80% of all revenue, digital revenues from its streaming operation handed the 30% mark final 12 months – a 12 months forward of goal.

“Working at Channel 4 has been a lifetime privilege as a result of Channel 4 is essentially the most extraordinary organisation,” Mahon stated. “From navigating the specter of privatisation … to shifting out of London, to digital transformation, lockdowns, political upheaval, promoting chaos – there has by no means been a uninteresting second.”