ITV confirms Airey appointment

ITV has confirmed that Dawn Airey is joining the commercial broadcaster to head its global content business. Her appointment comes after ITV reached an agreement with BSkyB, her former employer, over a non-compete clause in her contract.

Airey will report into ITV’s chief operating officer John Cresswell and will take on the role later this year. Her remit will cover ITV’s international production businesses in Australia, Germany and the US as well as ITV productions, Granada Ventures and Granada International. She will work closely with director of TV Simon Shaps and be responsible for developing ITV’s UK and international production, distribution and content businesses.

Airey had been tipped to join the broadcaster following her dramatic exit from production start-up Iostar. She quit Iostar just days after she arrived earlier this month following concerns over its finances and funding. The business has subsequently gone into liquidation.

She announced her departure from BSkyB, where she was managing director of channels and services, in December last year. Airey was at the satellite broadcaster for more than four years and previously worked at Channel Five as both director of programmes and chief executive.