Channel 5 plunders UK Gold for new sales team

Channel 5’s advertising sales operation took shape this week with the appointment of four senior UK Gold/UK Living sales staff, including sales controller Paul Curtis.

Curtis is to become deputy sales controller to Channel 5 sales director Nick Milligan, also appointed from UK Gold/UK Living.

David Harrison, research and new business development director at UK Gold/UK Living, is moving, to take on the same role at Channel 5. UK Living account director.

Mark Whyte will be the new sales controller.

Also expected to switch is operations director Stephen Duncan – he will keep the same job title.

Nick Milligan took up his new position as Channel 5 sales director on Monday. His immediate priorities are recruitment – he must have a sales team of more than 50 in place by October 1 – and establishing a fully integrated computer bookings system.

These first appointments are understood to represent the backbone of Milligan’s new team – the five have worked together for a number of years.

However, further approaches to remaining UK Gold/UK Living sales staff are expected. The sales team comprises about 25 staff.

Paul Taylor, who was appointed to replace Milligan as sales director last week (MW February 23), remains sanguine. “I’m aware of one or two people who will be leaving us. Everyone else is still here and I will convince them to stay,” he says.

Milligan was unavailable for comment.

Channel 5 chief executive Iain Ritchie is overseeing the hunt for a marketing director. A shortlist has now been drawn up and sources suggest an appointment is likely in the next few weeks.