C5 axes digital channels role

Channel 5 in the UK has made its head of digital channels redundant as part of its executive reshuffle.

Kate Barnes is leaving the broadcaster after five years following the decision to drop the head of digital channels role.

The change is the latest at C5 as it prepares for the departure in December of director of programmes Jeff Ford.

Earlier this week it was announced that Paul Dunthorne, MD of the Portland TV division of C5 parent Northern & Shell, would take a new chief operating officer role at C5, adding Ford’s operational duties to his remit.

A new creative director will be appointed shortly to take on Ford’s programme acquisition and commissioning role and that person will also assume Barnes’ responsibility for the broadcaster’s diginets 5* and 5 USA.

In a statement, Ford said: “Kate has been an excellent leader and team member and she leaves 5* and 5 USA in great shape. We’ll all miss her and I’d personally like to thank Kate for the creativity and strategic expertise she has brought to her job.”