Geoff Cooper, the chair of British electrical retailer AO World, will head the board of Channel 4, ending months of leadership limbo at the network.
Ofcom confirmed Cooper’s appointment as chair on Wednesday, hailing his “stand-out qualities needed to steer Channel 4 to a sustainable future.”
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Cooper’s appointment was rubberstamped by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, bringing to a close a recruitment process launched in December after it was revealed that Ian Cheshire was stepping down.
We revealed on Tuesday that Debbie Wosskow, the presumptive favorite for the role, was out of contention. Others linked to the role included Justin King, the former boss of retail giant Sainsbury’s.
There have been frustrations over how long the process has taken, with the leadership uncertainty further complicated by the exit of CEO Alex Mahon over the summer.
Cooper is an unknown figure in the world of television, but he has significant board-level experience at major companies, including Dunelm Group and Travis Perkins.
His closest public link to the media industry is a non-executive director role he held at Informa, the publisher that once housed the now-shuttered TV trade Television Business International.
Cooper said he was looking forward to helping Channel 4 continue its “significant influence on the nation’s society, culture, creative industries and wider economy.”
He continues: “Channel 4’s people, partners in the independent production sector and wider media landscape, and viewers are vital in representing unheard voices, challenging with purpose and reinventing entertainment.”
His first job will be appointing a successor to former CEO Mahon. Deadline reported last month that Ashling O’Connor, a consultant at executive search firm Spencer Stuart, has circulated a brief for the CEO position and is drawing up a list of potential candidates.
Early runners and riders include Jonathan Allan, Channel 4’s interim CEO, and All3Media CEO Jane Turton. Sarah Rose, Paramount UK’s chief operating and commercial officer, was heavily linked to the vacancy but today announced she was joining The Royal Foundation, run by Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Allan welcomed Cooper: “Geoff brings extensive board-level experience from a wide range of businesses, as well as proven commercial acumen. As a publicly owned but commercially funded company, his fresh insights and new perspectives will be invaluable as we look to the next phase in Channel 4’s evolution.
“I also want to thank Dawn Airey for her outstanding leadership and huge support as interim chair since April. This has been Dawn’s second spell as interim chair and we owe her a huge debt of gratitude as she returns to her important role as a brilliant non-executive director.”
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