C4’s Ford Returns to Five

LONDON,
October 29: Channel 4’s acquisitions chief, Jeff Ford, is heading back to Five
to assume the role of managing director of digital channels and acquisitions.

Ford,
the director of acquisitions at Film4 at Channel 4, was the managing editor at
Five until 2005. He takes up his new position at the broadcaster early next
year to assume oversight of FIVER and Five US, as well as acquisitions
across all the Five channels. He will report directly to Dawn Airey, Five’s incoming chair and
chief executive, and will sit on the Five Executive Board.

“I am thrilled Jeff is coming back to Five,” Airey said. “He is
undoubtedly one of the best acquisitions executives in the world and he will
make a significant contribution to the revitalization and success of Five.”

Ford said of his new appointment: "I'm very excited to be
returning to Five and working, once again, with Dawn Airey. When I first joined
the channel in 1997, Dawn and I were part of a team that helped create a brand
that connected with a U.K. audience looking for something unique, fun and
honest. I'm proud to return to Five to further build on its reputation for the
best of U.S. shows, enhance the digital channels and help Dawn create, develop
and implement a future strategy for the company as we approach digital
switchover."

While at Five, Ford acquired top-performing shows like CSI, Law
& Order and Home and Away,
and at C4 his key acquisitions have included Ugly Betty, Desperate
Housewives and My Name is Earl.

—By Mansha Daswani