Rare TV CEO Stepping Down

Alexander Gardiner is stepping down as CEO of the independent documentary, factual and formats producer Rare TV.

Gardiner is stepping down as CEO to prioritize his health and family. The award-winning executive producer and CEO will remain connected to Rare TV as non-executive chair.

Gardiner joined Rare TV in 2019 from Channel 4, where he served as consultant commissioning editor. Prior to this, he was managing director of the ITV Studios-owned indie Shiver (now MultiStory Media). Gardiner also served as creative director for the Factual North arm of ITV Studios.

Rare TV will appoint a new CEO early in 2025.

Gardiner said: “My career so far has been a rollercoaster ride, working with great people in exciting locations on fascinating projects. I can’t think of anything that offers the rich variety that working in television provides. It’s been a tough decision to step down as CEO of Rare TV but I leave behind a great team and an industry facing multiple challenges. While I remain optimistic about the future, I do worry about the fragile economy for freelancers. When hugely talented and experienced producers and directors are reduced to working as Ocado delivery drivers, how can we hope to attract the brightest and the best into television?”

Graham Coxell, current non-executive chair of Rare TV, said: “Under Alex’s leadership, Rare is a company transformed at every level, whether it’s through our culture, where we all feel valued and treated with respect, our growth having doubled in size, or to the quality and quantity of what we produce—our slate and order book are greater than ever. His health and happiness are the priority, of course, but the fact that he has agreed to stay on as our chair, with a new CEO incoming whilst I take on the role of investor non-executive director—this way, we have the best of all worlds.”