Ofcom has announced the appointment of Dawn Airey as the interim chair of UK broadcaster Channel 4 ahead of Charles Gurassa’s departure on 27th January.
Gurassa was appointed in 2016 and steps down at the end of his second three-year term.
Airey joined Channel 4’s board at the end of last year as a non-executive director.
She has previously worked as chair and CEO of Channel 5, as well as managing director of channels and services for BSkyB, and managing director of global content at ITV.
Ofcom said Airey’s appointment has been approved by the UK culture secretary Nadine Dorries.
She will remain as interim chair of Channel 4 until a permanent chair is appointed to take up the position.
Channel 4 is currently awaiting the government’s decision as to its future. After holding a consultation period, the government is said to have been “inundated” by opposition against the move with reports suggesting over 60,000 submissions had been sent to the DCMS in response to the government’s consultation on the future of the broadcaster.
A number of companies are thought to be interested in acquiring Channel 4, including one headed by former CEO Michael Grade.
