Flextech Boss Tipped To Succeed Airey At Channel Five

Jane Lighting, head of Telewest’s TV production arm, Flextech, is being tipped as the front runner to become the new chief executive of Channel Five.

A report in yesterday’s Observer claims that Lighting, a protégée of Telewest’s former chief executive Adam Singer, has emerged as Channel Five’s preferred choice to succeed, Dawn Airey, who stepped down last year to join BSkyB as managing director of Sky Networks (see Airey’s Departure Represents Coup For BSkyB).

It is understood that Lighting had her first interview with the broadcaster just before Christmas, but final interviews have yet to be concluded.

NTL chief executive, Stephen Carter, is also believed to have been interviewed for the position. He has also recently been linked with the top job at new media super-regulator, Ofcom.

It is unlikely that an announcement will come in the next few weeks and Didier Bellens, chief executive of Channel Five owner RTL, told the Observer that he would not impose a deadline on any decision.

Channel Five’s deputy chief executive, Nick Milligan, is currently acting chief executive (see Five Appoints Milligan As Acting Chief Executive) and has been responsible for the day to running of the channel since Airey’s departure in September.

Last week Channel Five signed BBC journalist Donal MacIntyre as the new face of its current affairs programming (see Five Appoints Milligan As Acting Chief Executive). The move is being seen as an attempt by the channel to shift its emphasis to current affairs and factual programming.

Channel Five: 020 7550 5555 www.five.tv

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