Latest favourite for ITV chair position pulls out

Sir Michael Bishop has pulled out of the running for ITV’s chairman role, despite being tipped as the new favourite.

The broadcaster announced today that Bishop, the former chairman of Channel 4 and chairman and owner of BMI, has ruled himself out as a potential candidate in ITV’s search to find a replacement for Sir Michael Grade.

As such, ITV’s current chief operating officer John Cresswell will step into the role of interim chief executive to help the company appoint and new chair.  Cresswell will then step down altogether to “seek a fresh challenge,” the broadcaster said.

Bishop’s withdrawal comes as further blow to ITV after its hopes to appoint the former BSkyB chief Tony Ball fell through due to “substantial differences” of opinion.

Sir Crispin Davis, the former chief executive of the publishing group Reed Elsevier, became the next favourite to take up the position, until he also withdrew from the process.

This morning, an ITV spokesperson said: “The interim CEO role will commence on the arrival of Michael Grade’s successor as chairman, the process for which is under way. Sir Crispin Davis and Sir Michael Bishop have both recently confirmed to the nominations committee of the board that they are not candidates.  The committee has revised its shortlist accordingly and is continuing its search with all due speed.”

Grade announced plans to step down from his role as chief executive in April.  He had planned to stay on at ITV as a non-executive chairman, however, Grade has now decided to cut all ties with the broadcaster.