ITV hires Cook to head interactive and online services

by Joe Lepper, Brand Republic 28-Oct-05, 11:00

LONDON - ITV has appointed former Associated Press client relations chief Ann Cook to the new role of controller of its ITV interactive and ITV.com services.

She joins this week and reports to ITV Consumer chief operating officer Tom Betts, in a role created as part of a drive to integrate its online and interactive services.

According to a statement from ITV, her priorities are to develop "commercially focused, compelling content that complements ITV's linear broadcast channels". This will include working alongside commercial development director Jane Marshall and product development director Kevin Gooding.

At Associated Press, she was director of international client relations, managing around 2,000 global clients. Before that, she was managing director of the international division of US media research firm Frank N Magid Associates. She has also had roles with Granada Sky Broadcasting in the 1990s and with Flextech Television.

"Ann's breadth of experience in managing different media businesses will be invaluable to us as we begin to integrate ITV.com with ITVi. Ann will provide the drive for both businesses as part of a portfolio that also now includes ITV Mobile and ITV Local," Betts said.

Cook's appointment comes as ITV launches ITVi 24/7, which offers digital satellite viewers a range of pay-to-play games and access to Friends Reunited.

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