Channel 4 promotes Allan as part of exec reshuffle

British pubcaster Channel 4 has promoted Jonathan Allan to chief operating officer as a part of a leadership restructure. 

Allan is currently chief commercial officer, a role he has held since April 2018. He initially joined the broadcaster as sales director in 2011, and was previously the managing director of marketing agency OMD UK for just shy of 16 years.

In this new role, he will oversee a number of departments including All 4, communications and corporate affairs, content management, and technology.

He replaces Keith Underwood, who himself has held the role for a little under two years. Underwood will leave the broadcaster at the end of January after over 10 years, having held a range of roles including director strategy and technology and head of commercial strategy.

Finance director Vince Russell will also take on additional responsibilities for leading workspace and will report directly to Allan.

In another change of its corporate leadership team, Sarah Rose, chief consumer and strategy officer, will be departing after the summer. During her tenure, Rose contributed to the launch of its VOD service, and led a range of teams. Channel 4 notes that she will continue to work with the team to “oversee key strategic partnership.”

The final change is that Matt Salmon, current head of agency and client sales, will serve as interim director of sales while a full recruitment process is carried out.

Of the changes, Channel 4 CEO Alex Mahon said: “Jonathan has played a significant role leading 4 All the UK and our move to Leeds, Bristol and Glasgow in addition to eight years driving record commercial success for Channel 4. As I organise our executive team even more closely behind the delivery of our strategy, I’m delighted to be able to bring together our key operational departments under his leadership in this larger office of the COO.

“Keith has made a huge contribution to the success of Channel 4 over the past 10 years and I’d like to wish him all the best for whatever new challenge he decides to take on next. I’d also like to thank Sarah Rose for the important role she has played in so many different areas of Channel 4’s business and I’m pleased to be continuing to work with her on our strategic partnerships strategy this year.”

This news comes shortly after the announcement that the broadcaster has appointed Sophie Lloyd to the newly created role of branded entertainment and creative leader.

Lloyd, formerly lead creative for branded entertainment at Mother, will be responsible for C4’s branded entertainment output across its linear and digital channels, as well as social-first digital content developed through the commercial division of Channel 4’s newly announced Digital Creative Unit.