Channel 4 looked to appoint a number of Non-Executive Directors that would bring three specific skillsets to their board. They sought senior people of stature from a broad range of backgrounds, who between them would bring experience of the creative industries, of working with young people and organisations with an educational purpose, and of working in a major advertising or digital agency.
As a major commercial organisation with a public service statutory requirement undergoing a review of its future ownership and governance, these were extremely high-profile appointments under much scrutiny. Combined with the threat of potential relocation for the organisation and the complicated process of ministerial approval, candidate care was of the utmost importance and sensitivity. As there was a high risk of ‘candidate fall-out’ we invested a significant amount of time in our relationship with candidates to keep them informed and reassured throughout process.
We conducted a broad-ranging search on Channel 4’s behalf, reaching out to over 200 individuals in the course of our research. Four appointments were made to the board: Althea Efunshile CBE, Chair of the National College Creative Industries, Usma Hasan, Producer and Co-Founder of Little House Productions, Fru Hazlitt, MD of Commercial, Online and Interactive at ITV and NED at Merlin Entertainments, and Tom Hooper, Oscar-winning Director of the King’s Speech.
We have since worked again with Channel 4 on the appointment of non-executive directors with backgrounds in finance and current affairs broadcasting.
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