Digital UK Chief Quits As Switchover Gets Underway

Ford Ennals, the chief executive of Digital UK, the body overseeing the digital switchover, is stepping down just weeks after the process began.

Ennals is leaving to become president of Cole Hann, the footwear and leather-goods division of Nike, ahead of a major global expansion. The brand is introducing sports technology such as Nike Air into formal shoes in an effort to take on global brands such as Coach.

The move is a return to the US for Ennals, who was previously a senior vice-president of worldwide marketing at Reebok.. At Cole Hann, his remit will cover marketing, product development and design.

Ennals has insisted that the digital switchover was on track. “We have set the company up, negotiated funding and the organisation is stable and successful,” he said.

Ennals will leave the body in February and start at Cole Hann immediately. Digital UK hopes to have appointed Ennals’ successor prior to his departure and is interviewing both internal and external candidates.

Ennals has previously held senior marketing roles at Lloyds TSB, British Airways and Mars.

The town of Whitehaven in Cumbria became the first place in the UK to lose its analogue signal.

The two-stage process for 25,000 homes in Whitehaven began in the early hours of 17 October, when the analogue BBC Two signal was turned off (see Digital Switchover Begins Today).

By 2012 the process should be completed nation-wide.

Digital UK www.digitaluk.co.uk