A day for appointments and departures…
Today saw Channel 4 appoint Jay Hunt as its new chief creative officer, Julian Bellamy leave the broadcaster and Sir Michael Lyons announce plans to depart the BBC Trust next year.
As predicted at this year’s MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival a few weeks ago, Channel 4 has named the BBC1 controller Jay Hunt as its new chief creative officer – a job that Julian Bellamy, the head of Channel 4, had applied for.
Bellamy, who was also speaking at this year’s television festival, has been acting chief creative officer but failed to secure the position ahead of Hunt, and as such will now leave Channel 4.
Hunt will join the broadcaster – and take her place on the Channel 4 executive board – in January. Channel 4’s new chief executive David Abraham said Hunt will need to “convince advertisers, completely refresh our schedules… it’s a big task for a big figure” – one which doesn’t involve Big Brother no less.
Meanwhile, at the BBC, Sir Michael Lyons expressed no desire to be reappointed as BBC Trust chairman when his current four-year term ends and therefore will step down in May next year.
Lyons took the opportunity to defend the BBC Trust, which has often be said to be too much of a cheerleader for the BBC. In a letter to Jeremy Hunt, Lyons wrote: “For all the continuing debate, I am clear that this model is robust, workable and effective. I am proud of what we have achieved in safeguarding the BBC’s independence against significant challenge, and bringing the interests of audiences in all their diversity to the centre of the BBC’s thinking.”
There has been much speculation about Lyon’s position and the role of the BBC Trust since the coalition government was formed. Hunt has said in the past that he would like to scrap the BBC Trust, although since taking on the role as culture secretary, he has yet to actually do it.
And it wasn’t just the broadcasters announcing appointments and departures. At the NAB’s President’s Breakfast in London this morning, two new trustees were named – Google’s Mark Howe and AMV BBDO’s Ian Pearman. It must be the day for it!