Dawn Airey Leaves ITV For RTL

Dawn Airey has left ITV with immediate effect to join RTL Group in a senior position that will include becoming chairman of Five.

Airey has been at ITV for just eight months (see Dawn Airey Confirmed As ITV Director Of Content), where she has been managing director of the global content division and was recently promoted to the ITV board.

She launched Five as director of programmes in 1996, before serving as chief executive between 2000 and 2003. Following that she joined BSkyB as managing director of Sky Networks.

Former Fox executive and current chief operating officer of ITV global content, Lee Bartlett, will act as the interim managing director of the division.

In a statement, Michael Grade, ITV executive chairman, said: “We have assembled a strong team to lead our Global Content business and they will now report to Lee. I will spend more of my time in the content business to ensure that the momentum is maintained.”

Airey will take “an extended period of gardening leave” before joining Five.

Five: 020 7550 5555 www.five.tv ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com