Mahon to receive Formats Gold at MipFormats

Alex Mahon, CEO of Channel 4 in the UK, is to receive the International Formats Gold Award at MipFormats, where she will also take part in a keynote one-on-one interview with Gary Carter.

Alex Mahon

The award is presented by C21, FRAPA, EMC and MipFormats to executives who have helped define the global entertainment business.

The award will be presented on Saturday April 7 at MipFormats in Cannes at a gala dinner at ClubC21, where she will be the guest of honour.

Alex was CEO of Foundry, the leading design and visual and 3D effects software firm, for two years from 2015 to 2017 under its ownership by Hg Capital.

Before she moved into technology, she spent 15 years running creative production companies and her focus is high-growth, international and entrepreneurial businesses. She was CEO of Shine Group, which she joined in 2006, and, with partners, built the group through M&A and organic growth into an organisation with 27 creative labels in 12 countries and brands including MasterChef, Biggest Loser, Broadchurch, Spooks and The Bridge.

Prior to this, she had a career in media across Europe, at Talkback Thames, FremantleMedia Group and RTL Group.

She started off as a PhD physicist and then a strategy consultant at Mitchell Madison Group in the pre-2000 internet boom.

Alex was previously senior independent director at Ocado plc and co-founder of tech start-up WeAreTV.

Previous recipients of The Formats Gold Award are:

2017: Paul Gilbert
2016: Gary Carter
2015: Annie Wegelius
2014: Mark Itkin, William Morris Endeavor
2013: Stephen Lambert, Studio Lambert/All3Media
2012: David Lyle, Fox Reality
2011: Dick de Rijk, creator of gameshow hit Deal or No Deal
2010: Reg Grundy, former CEO of Grundy Television
2009: Peter Bazalgette, former creative director of Endemol Group
2008: Stephen Leahy and Trish Kinane, Ludus Entertainment
2007: Merv Griffin, creator of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy

Announcing the award, C21Media’s editor-in-chief & managing director David Jenkinson said: “Alex has inspired creativity in formats, along with many other things, throughout her career. The move to C4 has also been underpinned by innovation in formats strategy. We are looking forward to a great keynote interview and to presenting her with the Gold Award in Cannes.”

The overall theme of MipFormats this year is “preparing for the year 2020,” with two days of sessions devoted to understanding the future.

The full programme can be found by clicking here.