Former Reed Elsevier head favourite for ITV chairman role

Sir Crispin Davis, former head of Reed Elsevier, and Sir Michael Bishop, founder of airline bmi and former chairman of Channel 4, have been named as favourites to land the role of ITV chairman.

The appointment of a chairman is vital for the company following last Friday’s announcement that Tony Ball would not be named chief executive while Michael Grade would be leaving ITV as soon as possible.

The first thing the new chairman will have to do is find a new chief executive and oversee any interim management appointments.

According to a report in the Sunday Times, the broadcaster has also approached Sir Christopher Bland, the former BBC and BT chairman, and Martin Broughton, chairman of British Airways, about its chairmanship.

Davis is the frontrunner to become chairman because of his time in charge of publisher Reed Elsevier.

However, the Sunday Times quotes one shareholder as describing Davis’ ten-year tenure at Reed as “disastrous” after racking up high levels of debt.

Bishop, founder of airline bmi, was chairman of Channel 4 between 1993 and 1997.