Channel 4 Hires Head of Digital Commissioning

Channel 4 has appointed Sacha Khari to the newly created role of head of digital commissioning.

In his new role, Khari will take on responsibility for all digital content commissioning and acquisition across social and digital platforms, working closely with the Leeds-based 4Studio. He will oversee a team of digital commissioners, including Laura Marks, who commissions branded entertainment and factual; Navi Lamba, who is across E4, entertainment and teens; and a third yet-to-be-appointed digital commissioner, whose main focus will be comedy. Khari, who will start his role in June, will report to Karl Warner, head of youth and digital.

Prior to joining Channel 4, Khari was group director of video at UNILAD, overseeing strategy, development, production and delivery of all original and commercial content globally, before moving over to LADbible Group as head of video.

Warner said: “We’re thrilled Sacha’s joining us to head up a group of top-class creatives in our new digital commissioning team. He brings with him an absolute wealth of experience in producing digital content that young audiences love, and alongside the brilliant 4Studio, who’ve produced amazing content this last year, we look forward to cementing our digital ambitions and playing a big part in the success of the Future4 strategy.”

Khari said: “Will miss the ‘LADs’, their expertise in social never fails to blow my mind. However, to turn the page and dive into the Future4 game-changing digital vision, with Karl and the team, is beyond thrilling. Channel 4 has bookmarked my life with content that has defined me—I can’t wait to play a role in bringing this warmth to both digital audiences and new communities!”

Khari’s digital commissioning team will also be bolstered by two new commissioning execs joining the channel and reporting to Laura Marks. Evie Buckley will be joining from Acme Films, where she is currently an executive producer for both broadcast and digital. Joe Churchill, who will commence his role this month, previously worked at the BBC and Sony Pictures before founding the digital content studio Weekend, where he spent four years as creative director.