ITV Appoints Chief Executive

LONDON: Adam Crozier, currently the chief executive of the Royal Mail Group, has been tapped for the top job at ITV Plc after a long search for a successor to Michael Grade.

Grade announced last April his intention to exit ITV. In October, the British broadcasting group named its COO, John Cresswell, as interim chief executive. Crozier takes up the role of chief executive later this year. Announcing the appointment, Archie Norman, the chairman of ITV Plc, said: “Adam is a very strong leader with a great track record in delivering transformational change. He has worked successfully in talent-driven organizations, with government and regulators, and has a thorough understanding of the media, advertising and branding industries. His task is to bring together the skills and talent within ITV to drive the business on its strategic journey. Adam was the unanimous choice of the non-Executive Directors of ITV after a very full and thorough search process."

Norman noted that in Crozier’s seven-year tenure at Royal Mail, he "transformed the group from a loss-making organization into a profitable business that last year doubled its operating profits to more than £320 million. He implemented a £2 billion transformation program and established the Post Office as a leading brand in financial services, with a fast-growing online business."

The 46-year-old Crozier was chief executive of The Football Association before joining Royal Mail in 2003. He previously spent a number of years at Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising, including as joint chief executive for the U.K.