Pickard Sticks With ITV Following Reshuffle

ITV’s director of programmes Nigel Pickard has decided to continue his role with the broadcaster following a week of soul searching to consider his place after the firm’s management reshuffle.

Pickard is reported to have taken last week to consider his position with ITV following Granada chief executive Simon Shaps’ appointment as his superior (see Desmond To Leave ITV In Management Overhaul). However, Pickard’s decision to stay with the broadcaster will see him preside over a strong Autumn schedule, with programmes such as X Factor and Ant and Dec’s Gameshow Marathon currently performing well.

A report today by Broadcast states that ITV is keen to retain Pickard, while the programme boss was, in turn, eager to avoid being labelled a scapegoat for the broadcaster’s recent spate of poor ratings.

ITV is reportedly planning further management shakeups, with “a number of new faces” expected at network centre, expanding the commissioning team and bolstering several other departments.

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