Together TV taps former BBC Studios exec Lisa Opie as new chair

Social purpose broadcaster Together TV has appointed Lisa Opie, former MD of UK production at BBC Studios (BBCS), as its new chair.

Lisa Opie

Opie, currently MD at video games developer Ubisoft Studio, succeeds Together TV founder and chair Caroline Diehl MBE, who is stepping down in September.

ITV commissioning editor Satmohan Panesar, meanwhile, has been named as Together TV’s vice-chair, having chaired the board’s content group and been on the board of its Diverse Film Fund.

Opie will lead Together TV’s board that includes senior executives from partners including broadcasters BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky, telco Arqiva, the charity sector and its community-society shareholders. Its chief executive is Alexander Kann.

Satmohan Panesar

Opie has been Ubisoft Leamington and Ubisoft Reflections’ MD since 2021. At BBCS, prior to her role as MD of UK production, she was MD for BBCS factual and controller of business, factual and daytime for BBC Television. In addition, Opie spent more than 10 years in director or MD roles at different media companies including Twofour Digital, Channel Five Broadcasting and Flextech Television.

Diehl founded The Community Channel – now a charitable community benefit society operating as Together TV – in 2000, when she was founder and chief executive of the charity Media Trust.

Caroline Diehl

Together TV said that following her recent Churchill Fellowship, Diehl wants to focus on her new Impact Media initiative to connect and strengthen social impact media platforms around the world.

Opie said: “As a long-time supporter of the channel I have loved seeing its transformation to ever-closer engagement in the lives of its viewers. The channel’s purpose to inspire positive social change in people’s lives and communities is ever more relevant. I have been hugely impressed with Together TV’s success and pay tribute to Caroline, who has guided and grown the channel since launch. I’m honoured to be taking on the reins.”

Diehl added: “With the appointment of Lisa as our new chair, alongside a strong, diverse and passionate channel team, I know I am leaving the channel in the very best hands with a robust commitment building positive social impact across our communities that will continue in years to come. My special thanks to our media partners who have been with us since launch back in 2000 and to all the many colleagues, friends and supporters who’ve been part of our impact journey over the years.”