Ford steps down at Fox Networks

Industry veteran Jeff Ford is stepping down from his role at Fox Networks Group (FNG) and retiring after a 40-year career in television.

Jeff Ford

Ford will leave his position as UK MD and senior VP of original content for Europe and Africa at Fox Networks Group at the end of the year.

In separate news, Shoshana Wilson, currently director of global acquisitions in the FNG regional European team, is moving up to head of programmes and scheduling for FNG UK.

She will be responsible for all programming and scheduling for the full FNG UK channel brands, including Fox, National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild and YourTV.

FNG said today it was in the process of recruiting replacements for both Ford and Wilson, with announcements to follow in due course.

Ford, who joined what was then called Fox International Channels in 2015 after a stint with TV3 in Ireland, will work with FNG in a consultancy capacity on original content through the first half of 2018.

That will include the launch of Deep State, the company’s first regional scripted commission.

Ford is one of the best-known faces in the UK TV business following a career that included stints as director of acquisitions at Channel 4, director of programmes at Channel 5 and director of content for TV3 in Ireland.

Diego Londono, COO of FNG Europe and Africa, said: “Jeff Ford is synonymous with the UK television industry. Since joining our organisation in 2015, Jeff has been instrumental in the success of our UK business, alongside creating and launching our original scripted content strategy for the region.

“Following his decision to retire at the end of the year from his full-time role, we are thrilled that we’ll continue to be working closely with Jeff well into 2018, as we launch our first regional commission, Deep State, in over 50 markets across the region.

“Shoshana has been an incredibly important part of our European programming team and I’m delighted that she will be stepping up into this new role to focus solely on our UK business as we create some of our most ambitious schedules for our British viewers.”

FNG UK operates pay TV channels Fox, National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, YourTV and BabyTV.

FNG Europe & Africa operates 154 channels as well as numerous digital services, from 25 offices, broadcasting in 58 countries.