Dyke In Talks To Take Top Job At ITV
Former BBC Director General Greg Dyke is understood to be in talks with ITV Chairman Sir Peter Burt in a move which could see him replacing current ITV chief executive, Charles Allen.
While ITV refused to give official confirmation of the meeting, it is believed that Burt, who is currently on holiday, has had informal meetings with the former BBC boss which may result in him stepping into Charles Allen’s shoes as rumours circulate of a plot to oust the ITV chief.
Reports in February had named influential City fund manager Anthony Bolton as the man responsible for approaching Dyke, claiming that he was being groomed for a high flying role at ITV. Bolton has been branded the City’s “quiet assassin” by some after his role in removing Carlton chairman Michael Green as chairman-elect of ITV last year.
Dyke stepped down from his position at the BBC in January following damning criticism of the Corporation in the Hutton report (see Greg Dyke Steps Down As BBC Director General). A replacement has yet to be found, although, with the appointment of Michael Grade as the Corporation’s chairman came a reinvigorated search process, the results of which should be known within the next month (see BBC Confirms Grade As New Chairman).
Since his departure from the BBC Dyke has been linked to several broadcast positions, including rumours that he may re-apply for the position of director general with the BBC now under Grade’s control. If the top spot at ITV were to be offered to the former BBC head it would be made even sweeter by the ousting of Charles Allen, who removed Dyke as chief executive of London Weekend Television during the Granada take-over in 1994.
Commenting on the speculation that Dyke could soon be settling into a seat at ITV, Andrew Canter, Broadcast Director at the Media Planning Group, said: “There was always the thought that Dyke might go back to ITV, whether he goes or not is another matter but it has always been on the cards. I think if he does decide to go it will be of great benefit to ITV, I can see it being a big boost.”
The renewed speculation over Charles Allen’s future comes just weeks after at least one major shareholder at ITV called for a new chief executive to be found (see
ITV Investors Could Remove Allen As Chief Executive
ITV Investors Could Remove Allen As Chief Executive www.itv.com
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