Channel 4’s Katz shapes top team

UK pubcaster Channel 4 is on the look-out for a number of new staff after promoting one of its executives to deputy director of programmes.

Kelly Webb-Lamb

Kelly Webb-Lamb becomes deputy to Ian Katz and head of popular factual at C4, working alongside Katz develop the broadcaster’s overall creative strategy.

She will lead the channel’s on-screen diversity and inclusion strategy, with the factual entertainment, features and daytime commissioning teams all reporting to her.

The creative diversity team, headed by Angela Chan, and Deborah Dunnett’s nations and regions team, will also fall under Webb-Lamb’s remit.

Webb-Lamb, the ex-MD of Shine TV, joined C4 as head of factual entertainment in 2016 and oversaw the launch of The Great British Bake Off after it moved to the channel from the BBC. Other commissions include Genderquake, Peng Life and Indian Summer School.

Her credits at Shine include The Island with Bear Grylls and Hunted for Channel 4.

Meanwhile, C4 head of features Gill Wilson will step down at the start of April after five years with the broadcaster to spend time with her family.

Ian Katz

C4 said Wilson had taken the decision prior to Katz’s appointment, but she will remain in her post until the beginning of April to ensure a smooth transition. She has not accepted a new position.

Wilson joined C4 in 2012 to lead the commissioning team for features and daytime programming, with commissions such as Married at First Sight and The Supervet.

Before that, she co-founded The Undateables producer Betty and spent nine years at Endemol, where she was an executive producer.

C4 is now recruiting for a head of features and a head of factual entertainment, both of whom will report to Webb-Lamb.

Following the departure of Ralph Lee at the end of 2017, the broadcaster is also looking for a head of factual, who will report directly to Katz.

It is also seeking a head of specialist factual, who will report to the head of factual alongside head of documentaries Nick Mirsky.

Finally, C4 wants to recruit an editor for its Dispatches strand, following Daniel Pearl’s departure in December.

Katz, the former editor of BBC2’s Newsnight programme who was C4’s surprise choice to replace Jay Hunt, said: “Kelly is one of the pre-eminent creative leaders in television and has a unique ability to find the sweet spot where public service themes meet popular ideas.”

There are no further changes planned to the commissioning team. In addition to Webb-Lamb and the new head of factual, Katz’s direct reports continue to comprise Dom Bird, head of formats; Richard Brent, head of portfolio management; Dorothy Byrne, head of news and current affairs; Richard Davidson-Houston, head of on-demand service All 4 and digital content; Ed Havard, head of entertainment and live events; Fiona McDermott, head of comedy; and Beth Willis, head of drama.