Chief executive of Channel 5, David Elstein, and ITV’s commercial director, John Hardie, have been tipped as likely contenders for the position of chief executive of ITV when the post is vacated next year by current chief Richard Eyre. It was announced at the weekend that Eyre is moving over to media group Pearson to head its television interests (see Eyre Departs ITV For Pearson Television).
Eyre’s surprise departure, after only two years in the job and at a period of restructuring and change at ITV, leaves the Network without a head at a key time in the TV industry as digital, multichannel services are set grow more than ever. Bob Wootton, director of media and advertising affairs at the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers (ISBA), says that the move is “good news for Richard and bad news for ITV,” adding that he does not see an obvious candidate for Eyre’s replacement.
Simon Mathews, managing director of advertising and media agency, Optimedia says: “It should be an internal appointment. ITV have finally got some sense of a cohesive direction, so why change it by bringing in an outsider?” ITV’s commercial and marketing director, John Hardie, has been named by a number of people in the advertising industry as a possible successor to Eyre. “John Hardie should get it, but others could include David Mansfield [Capital Radio chief executive] or Stewart Butterfield [MD of Granada Broadcasting], or even Martin Bowley [Carlton Sales MD],” says Russell Boyman, managing partner, broadcast at Mediapolis.
“Naturally, much speculation will centre on the usual suspects, with Channel 5’s David Elstein probably the prime target,” says Nick Cross, a director of Mediavest Manchester. Former Channel 4 chief executive, Michael Grade, was named as a possible candidate for the job, as was C4’s current chief, Michael Jackson. Another possible internal appointment could be ITV’s director of programmes, David Liddiment.
— Who do you think will be the next chief executive of ITV? Let us know at news@mediatel.co.uk. —
