Sir Peter Bazalgette Appointed ITV Chairman

LONDON: ITV has appointed Sir Peter Bazalgette as non-executive chairman, effective from May 12, succeeding Archie Norman, who will step down at the 2016 Annual General Meeting after more than six years in the role.

Bazalgette, who has been a non-executive director of ITV since June 2013, is chair of Arts Council England until January 2017 and is currently president of the Royal Television Society. He was previously chairman of Endemol UK and is credited with the creation of internationally renowned TV formats.

Andy Haste, ITV’s senior independent non-executive director, said: “We went through an extensive and rigorous process to ensure that we found the best possible candidate to become the next chairman of ITV. Out of a strong field of candidates, it was very clear to us that Peter is the right person to take on the role and we’re delighted that he has accepted.”

ITV Chief Executive Adam Crozier added: “It’s been great to have had Archie as part of the team over the last six years as we transformed the company into the international media business it is today. ITV is now clearly in a much stronger position creatively, commercially and financially than when we started out and we’re in great shape to take on the many opportunities and challenges ahead. I’m really pleased that Peter, with his huge wealth of experience in television and the wider creative industries, will be with us as chairman as we continue to grow and strengthen the business in the U.K. and internationally.”

Bazalgette commented: “As I have seen for myself over the last few years, ITV has gone through a remarkable resurgence during Archie’s chairmanship and there is still so much more that we can achieve. This is an incredibly exciting time for everyone in the media sector with change happening at an unprecedented rate, and I’m absolutely delighted to be working with Adam and the management team. TV is my first love.”

Norman said: “The last six years has been undoubtedly challenging but also extremely rewarding and enjoyable, and an experience I would not have missed for the world. The ITV I am leaving has a great track record, brilliant people and enormous potential for future growth. I leave it in the very best of hands.”