Channel 4 chief exec Alex Mahon announced yesterday she is stepping down after almost eight years in a move that appeared to blindside insiders at the broadcaster Prolific North spoken to.
During her tenure Mahon, who joined in 2017 as the first female CEO in the broadcaster’s four-decade history, helped fight off an attempt to privatise Channel 4 by a hostile Conservative government, oversaw guiding the broadcaster through the “market shock” of the worst advertising downturn since the financial crisis of 2008, and masterminded the broadcaster’s ongoing transition to digital-first as audiences increasingly abandon traditional viewing. She also led the broadcaster’s high profile pivot away from London, including the opening of its new “national HQ” in Leeds and plans to double the broadcaster’s Manchester operation.
She has also faced criticism for the size of her pay packet, particularly against the backdrop of the broadcaster’s biggest round of layoffs in 15 years last year.
READ MORE: Channel 4 CEO Alex Mahon steps down from “lifetime privilege” role at broadcaster
Given the apparent unexpected nature of Mahon’s announcement, and the fact that the broadcaster is currently awaiting the arrival of a new chair, it’s perhaps unsurprising that chief operating officer, Jonathan Allan, will be filling in on an interim basis for now, and that no names have been officially put forward by C4 execs as expected replacements so far, but who could be in the running?
Allan himself may be interim for now, but he was in the picture in 2017 too, ultimately losing out to Mahon for the top job, and he may well put himself forward again.
Outside of the current C4 set up, Apple’s European creative boss Jay Hunt could come back into shot. She’d been hotly tipped to take over from outgoing chief executive David Abraham in 2017, but like Allan lost out to Mahon.
A former C4 chief creative officer from the pre-Mahon era, Hunt is probably best known at the broadcaster for poaching Bake Off from the BBC in 2016, and the show remains one of Channel 4’s most popular today.
Over at Channel 5, president and Paramount Global UK regional lead Sarah Rose could fancy a change of scenery amidst uncertainty during the ongoing Skydance takeover, although having already served over 14 years in a variety of senior roles at C4 it might not be quite the “new” scenery she has in mind.
Dawn Airey, Channel 4 interim chair, said of Mahon’s departure: “Alex is a great figure in British television. She has been one of the most impactful CEOs since Jeremy Isaacs’ founding of Channel 4 more than 42 years ago.
“She is business minded and has also been transformational both culturally and creatively, proving time and again her extraordinary ability to inspire and drive positive and meaningful change. Under her leadership, Channel 4 has moved with the times and driven the times.
“While change is never easy, especially when so consequential, I could not be more pleased that Jonathan Allan, our excellent chief operating officer, will serve as interim CEO while the Board focuses on a permanent replacement for Alex.”
