TV veteran Pat Younge joins ITVS board

ITV Studios (ITVS) in the UK has appointed industry veteran Pat Younge to its board as a non-executive director, replacing former UK MD Denise O’Donoghue.

Pat Younge

Younge is a journalist and creative executive with 30 years’ experience working at major broadcasters in the UK and abroad.

He has international experience at senior levels in journalism, commissioning, production, public service television, digital media and pay TV and has held several leadership roles.

Younge is currently the co-founder and co-MD of Cardiff Productions having joined in May from Sugar Films, which he co-founded in 2015.

Previously, he led the BBC Television Production studio, responsible for more than 2,500 hours of programming annually across comedy, drama, entertainment and factual, as well as multi-platform. He was responsible for 3,000 programme makers in six bases around the UK, which produced shows including Strictly Come Dancing, Top Gear, Doctor Who and Planet Earth.

Prior to that, Younge spent four years in the US as president of cablenet Travel Channel Media, during which time shows like Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations and Man v Food were introduced.

Younge has also worked at BBC Sport and Channel 4, having started his career at ITV’s London Weekend Television.

O’Donoghue had been non-executive director on the board since stepping down as UK MD of ITVS after a four-year stint in 2014.

In his new role at ITVS, Younge will share his experience and insight to support the executive team, assisting with the implementation of its strategy, offering specialist advice and helping develop the business.

Julian Bellamy, MD of ITVS, said: “Pat is a renowned leader in our industry with extensive experience across programme making, running studios and TV channels. His contribution to the ITV Studios board will be invaluable and I’m looking forward to working with him.”

Younge added: “It’s good to be coming back to ITV where I started my career. Julian has built a great team and ITV Studios has some fantastic labels, and I hope to help them build on their successes.”