Five replaces programme chief

Dan Chambers, director of programmes at Five, is leaving the company by mutual agreement. He will be replaced by Flextech managing director Lisa Opie.

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Dan Chambers, director of programmes at Five, is leaving the company “by mutual agreement”. He will be replaced by Flextech managing director Lisa Opie, who will take the title managing director of content.

Opie announced she was leaving Flextech, the content arm of merged cable giant NTL:Telewest, in June this year after 13 years.

It is not known why Chambers is leaving Five or whether he has a job to go to.

Chambers became director of programmes in September 2003 to replace Kevin Lygo, who returned to Channel 4 as director of television. Previously, he was head of factual programming.

Five chief executive Jane Lighting says that Chambers has “done a good job” but she adds: “We now need a creative director with the skills and expertise to run a portfolio of channels”.

Lighting worked with Opie at Flextech where she was chief executive of content, leaving to join Five in early 2003.

Opie, who has been managing director at Flextech since 2003, will be tasked with developing Five’s content strategy across all platforms.

It follows Five’s belated entry into the multi-channel market with the launch of digital stations Five Life and Five US in mid-October.