Rare TV Appoints New CEO

The factual indie Rare TV has named Peabody Award-winning Channel 4 vet Alexander Gardiner the company’s new CEO.

Gardiner previously served as Channel 4’s consultant commissioning editor. This follows a stint as managing director of Shiver, at which he led the restructuring of the ITV Studios-owned indie. Gardiner’s regional credentials also include serving as creative director for the Factual North arm of ITV Studios, overseeing a reorganization of the team, its structures and its finances. His appointment to the helm of Rare TV comes on the heels of the production house’s recent acquisitions of 360Production and Screenchannel.

In the course of overseeing hundreds of hours of programming, Gardiner has won two BAFTAs, five Royal Television Society Awards and a Peabody Award. His numerous credits include co-executive producing the first season of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, spearheading the first-ever U.K. political party Leaders’ Debate in 2010, launching ITV’s flagship political show Peston on Sunday and overseeing Exposure: The Other Side of Jimmy Savile, which sparked a major police investigation.

Graham Coxell, non-executive chairman of Rare, said: “In addition to Alex’s unquestionable media and TV credentials to lead Rare through the next chapter of its development, Alex has a very strong sense of ethics and desire to make a positive impact on our community as demonstrated by his numerous voluntary activities focused at ‘giving back.’ It was these credentials and Alex’s values which made him a standout candidate to take on the role as CEO of Rare amongst some very strong competition. We are therefore delighted to welcome him on board.”

Gardiner said: “For me, there’s nothing more satisfying than unlocking potential—both individual and corporate—and Rare has potential by the bucket load. The range in its portfolio hugely appeals to me but doesn’t directly replicate what I’ve already done, allowing a fresh challenge and potential to explore new territory. I love to provoke conversation through stories on TV and here we have everything from quality daytime lifestyle superbrands to blue-chip docs. More importantly, I’m coming into a team with the talent, energy and enthusiasm to realize it all.’