Klein resurfaces at Banijay prodco

Former BBC4 controller and ITV factual commissioner Richard Klein has resurfaced as creative director of Banijay-owned IWC Media.

Richard Klein

Klein is joining MD Hamish Barbour’s team at the Glasgow- and London-based firm as it attempts to grow its factual output with broadcasters in the UK and internationally.

Klein left his role as director of factual at commercial broadcaster ITV in February.

The company’s factual credits include Slow Train Through Africa with Griff Rhys Jones for ITV, Britain’s Benefit Tenants for Channel 4 and Fake! The Great Masterpiece Challenge for Sky Arts.

Its recent commissions include Robbie Coltrane’s Critical Evidence (A+E Networks) and Robson Green’s Grand Slam Fishing (Travel Channel), alongside the long-running Location, Location, Location (C4).

Klein moved into television from print journalism when he joined the BBC in 1996, first as a current affairs producer and director and later as a factual commissioning executive.

He was promoted to commissioning editor for documentaries in 2005, head of independent commissioning for BBC Knowledge in early 2008 and then controller of factual-skewing BBC4 in December that year. He joined ITV in May 2013.

“IWC is a production company that has real strength in depth and breadth, both in terms of its production output and the people that work there and I relish the chance to help the company grow and develop,” said Klein.

Klein was one of numerous ITV commissioners to exit the commercial broadcaster following Kevin Lygo’s appointment as director of television earlier this year.

Others included factual commissioner Andrew O’Connell and entertainment commissioner Claire Zolkwer.