Ofcom appoints Geoff Cooper as chair of Channel 4

UK media regulator Ofcom has appointed Geoff Cooper as the next chair of pubcaster Channel 4, succeeding interim chair Dawn Airey on October 1.

Geoff Cooper

Currently chair of electrical retailer AO World, Cooper has over 30 years’ board experience across a range of public and private UK companies, including as chair of retailers Dunelm and Card Factory, food supplier Brakes and holiday park operator Bourne Leisure, and as a non-executive director at publishing firm Informa and bank Abbey National.

Cooper’s executive career includes nearly 10 years as CEO of builders’ merchant Travis Perkins and as deputy CEO of healthcare product provider Alliance UniChem, having previously been its finance director. He has also been an adviser to senior executives, private equity, venture capital and start-up businesses, and chaired a major trade association.

Ofcom’s chair Lord Grade said Cooper “demonstrated the stand-out qualities needed to steer Channel 4 to a sustainable future.” His appointment for a three-year term has been approved by the secretary of state for culture, media and sport, Lisa Nandy.

Nandy said: “Channel 4 is a treasured national institution with a track record of creating cutting-edge television which reflects Britain in all its diversity. I look forward to seeing Geoff Cooper help Channel 4 continue to provide top quality programmes and adapt to the changing media landscape.”

Cooper said: “I am delighted to be appointed as chair of Channel 4 and to be involved in its continued success as a significant influence on the nation’s society, culture, creative industries and wider economy.

“Channel 4’s people, partners in the independent production sector and wider media landscape, and viewers are vital in representing unheard voices, challenging with purpose and reinventing entertainment, and I look forward to serving all of them.”

In a separate statement, Channel 4’s interim CEO Jonathan Allan said: “Geoff brings extensive board-level experience from a wide range of businesses, as well as proven commercial acumen. As a publicly owned but commercially funded company, his fresh insights and new perspectives will be invaluable as we look to the next phase in Channel 4’s evolution.

“I also want to thank Dawn Airey for her outstanding leadership and huge support as interim chair since April. This has been Dawn’s second spell as interim chair and we owe her a huge debt of gratitude as she returns to her important role as a brilliant non-executive director.”