Dawn Airey, the former Channel 5 Director of Programs, has been appointed Interim Chairman of Channel 4 and will likely guide the network through any privatization decisions.
Airey joined Channel 4 Board in late 2013 as a Non-Executive Directress. Today, Nadine Dorries approved her appointment.
Charles Gurassa, the incumbent, will be replaced by her later in the week. He is retiring after six years. She will remain until a permanent Chair is appointed.
Airey is a high-profile British broadcasting figure who was ViacomCBS-owned Channel 5’s Director Of Programmes and held two stints as Chair/CEO. She was also the Director of Global Content at ITV and the Managing Director for Channels and Services at Sky.
Together with her predecessors, she was elected to the board.Todayprogram editor Sarah Sands, former advertising body Thinkbox CEO Tess Alps and Reuters’ ex-Managing Director Global David Kogan in December.
The decision to make the move comes as the UK government makes a decision about whether to privatize Channel 4. Deadline last week revealed that the decision may be delayed until Spring.
Although selling Channel 4 seemed like a sure thing when it was first proposed, Dorries seems less interested and has shifted her focus to the BBC since September.