Channel 4 Bolsters Commissioning Team

Channel 4 has made three new appointments within its senior commissioning team, with Steven Handley, Alisa Pomeroy and Ollie Madden as heads of department.

Each of the heads of department will be tasked to deliver against the broadcaster’s recently announced Fast Forward strategy, which will reshape the organization as it sets out to become a genuinely digital-first public service streamer.

Pomeroy becomes head of documentaries and factual entertainment. Her recent commissions include Evacuation, Jade: The Reality Star Who Changed Britain, Jeremy Kyle Show: Death on Daytime and a host of other documentaries, including To Catch a Copper, Partygate and The Push. Pomeroy has been head of documentaries since 2022.

Handley takes up the newly created post of head of reality and entertainment. Handley has been in post as Channel 4’s interim head of entertainment since 2023 and previously held the role of commissioning editor in entertainment since 2018. Handley has commissioned shows sich as Tempting Fortune, The Bridge, Don’t Look Down, Sink or Swim, Jimmy Carr’s I Literally Just Told You and One Night In and has overseen live comedy entertainment shows The Last Leg and Late Night Lycett.

Madden will take on the newly combined role of director of Film4 and Channel 4 drama. Since joining Film4 in 2017, Madden has overseen a slate that includes Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things and The Favourite, Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin, Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest, Rose Glass’ Saint Maud and upcoming Love Lies Bleeding, Andrew Haigh’s All of Us Strangers, Kibwe Tavares and Daniel Kaluuya’s The Kitchen and Molly Manning-Walker’s How To Have Sex.

The leadership team, under Chief Content Officer Ian Katz, will oversee seven commissioning hubs and will commission across digital and linear platforms and channels, focusing investment on distinctive, streaming-friendly British content.

Meanwhile, Kiran Nataraja takes on the expanded role of director of streaming and content strategy, taking on editorial leadership of Channel 4 streaming, in addition to her existing responsibilities managing the TV channel portfolio and program acquisitions.

Katz said, “I couldn’t be more delighted that Alisa, Ollie and Steve are taking the reins in these key areas for driving our transformation into Britain’s first genuine public service streamer.

“They are all hugely original creatives, inspiring leaders and collaborative partners who producers and creators love working with. Alisa is a singular talent who has been responsible for many of our most noisy and purposeful hits of the last few years. Steve is a tornado of creative energy and passion with an instinctual feel for what audiences want to watch. Ollie is a creative powerhouse who has been at the heart of Film4’s extraordinary success and has a bold and ambitious vision for what Channel 4 drama can be.

“I’m also thrilled that Kiran, one of the smartest and most forward-facing thinkers about the evolving landscape of TV viewing, is taking on additional responsibility for Channel 4 streaming alongside a soon-to-be-appointed streaming business director. This represents a key step in putting streaming at the heart of the channel.

“These changes, alongside a group of outstanding HoDs already in place, mean we now have an exceptional group of creative leaders who will ensure that Channel 4 remains the most exciting, creative, and innovative organization to work with. We have adapted to evolving viewer behavior and want to remain a trusted, relevant and loved brand for viewers for generations to come.”