ITV CEO Search Suspended

ITV has suspended its search for a new chief executive following last week’s merger proposal from NTL.

According to a report in the Guardian, the candidates vying to replace Charles Allen have been contacted and told that the recruitment process has been suspended whilst merger talks with NTL are still ongoing (see NTL Telewest Could Merge With ITV).

However, the report quotes a spokesman for ITV as saying that the quest for a new CEO is still ongoing: “The process continues and is progressing well.”

Names in the frame for the top job are thought to include Stephen Carter, former head of media regulator Ofcom; Dawn Airey, a senior executive at Sky; Michael Jackson, a one-time chief executive of Channel 4; and Malcolm Wall, formerly with United Business Media (see ITV Board To Review Chief Exec Shortlist This Week).

ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com