ITV to draw up chief executive shortlist this week

by Mark Banham, Brand Republic 06-Nov-06, 08:50

LONDON - The board of ITV is expected to whittle down a long list of candidates for the broadcaster's vacant chief executive job to a shortlist of preferred candidates, when it meets later this week.

The list has been drawn up by executive recruitment specialist Zygos Partners and is expected to be presented to the board under the stewardship of chairman Sir Peter Burt.

Names reported to be in contention for the ITV chief executive, replacing former boss Charles Allen who stepped down last month, include: former Channel 4 boss Michael Jackson; former Ofcom chief executive Stephen Carter; Sky programming head Dawn Airey; United International Pictures' UK chairman and chief executive Stewart Till; and former Capital Radio chief executive David Mansfield.

Several high-profile candidates have indicated they would not accept the role if approached, including Mike Clasper, non-executive ITV board member and former BAA chief executive, and Andy Duncan, Channel 4 chief executive.

However, last week it was reported that Duncan had been newly approached to take the top job at ITV, and will be offered the role without a formal interview process. Duncan had previously said that he was not interested in the job and said that he was committed to Channel 4.

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