Channel 4’s Jonathan Allan Promoted to COO

Jonathan Allan has been promoted at Channel 4 to the role of chief operating officer as part of a restructured leadership team that brings together all the key operational functions into a newly expanded COO’s office.

Currently chief commercial officer, Allan will oversee a number of departments, including All 4, communications and corporate affairs, consumer and strategy, content management, finance, HR, nations and regions and technology. Finance Director Vince Russell, who joined Channel 4 from Sky in 2018, will take on additional responsibilities for leading workspace and will report directly to Allan.

Keith Underwood will exit Channel 4 at the end of January to pursue new opportunities. Underwood has been part of the executive team at Channel 4 for eight years as COO and previously director of strategy and technology.

Sarah Rose, chief consumer and strategy officer, will also be leaving Channel 4 after the summer.

Matt Salmon, currently head of agency and client sales, will move up to the exec team as interim director of sales while a full recruitment process is undertaken for the role.

Alex Mahon, Channel 4’s CEO, said: “Jonathan has played a significant role leading 4 All the UK and our move to Leeds, Bristol and Glasgow in addition to eight years driving record commercial success for Channel 4. As I organize our executive team even more closely behind the delivery of our strategy, I’m delighted to be able to bring together our key operational departments under his leadership in this larger office of the COO.

“Keith has made a huge contribution to the success of Channel 4 over the past ten years and I’d like to wish him all the best for whatever new challenge he decides to take on next. I’d also like to thank Sarah Rose for the important role she has played in so many different areas of Channel 4’s business and I’m pleased to be continuing to work with her on our strategic partnerships strategy this year.”