Channel 4’s Search for New Chair Nears Conclusion
The quest to find a new chair for Channel 4 is approaching its final stages. It has come to light that Debbie Wosskow, a notable digital entrepreneur and current member of Channel 4’s board, is no longer being considered for the position.
According to a recent report by Sky News’ Mark Kleinman, another significant contender, former Sainsbury’s CEO Justin King, has also been ruled out from the race. Despite their initial prominence as likely candidates, the focus has shifted to others, including Wol Kolade, a private equity executive, and another candidate whose identity has not been disclosed. Kolade, a benefactor to the Conservative Party, has a history of involvement with NHS England as a non-executive director and has voiced opinions on revising the funding model for the health service.
The responsibility of overseeing the selection process for the new Channel 4 chair lies with Ofcom, the UK’s media regulator, though the final appointment will require government approval. An official announcement from Ofcom is anticipated soon.
Background of the Recruitment Challenges
The search for a new chair began back in December following the announcement that Ian Cheshire would be stepping down. The long duration of the selection process has been a source of frustration, compounded by the resignation of CEO Alex Mahon last summer, which added to the uncertainties surrounding the network’s leadership.
Debbie Wosskow, despite now being out of contention, was previously seen as a strong candidate within Channel 4, especially after her board appointment in January 2024. Her familiarity with the network’s operations at Horseferry Road and her reportedly strong rapport with Ofcom chair Lord Grade made her a preferred choice among some at Channel 4.
Wosskow’s entrepreneurial career includes founding the tech startup Love Home Swap, which she sold to the American hotel group Wyndham in a lucrative £40 million deal in 2017. She is currently co-chair of the government’s Invest in Women Taskforce. However, not all her ventures have flourished; for instance, Allbright, a women-only members’ club, went under shortly after her departure, failing to repay a substantial government Covid loan valued at £9.46M.
Other individuals previously linked to the Channel 4 chair position include Dawn Airey, presently the interim chair and former chief of Channel 5, and Tristia Harrison, the ex-CEO of broadband provider TalkTalk.
Whoever becomes the next chair will play a crucial role in selecting a successor to the former CEO Mahon. Last month, Deadline reported that Ashling O’Connor of the executive search firm Spencer Stuart is working on identifying candidates for the CEO role, with Channel 4’s interim CEO Jonathan Allan and All3Media CEO Jane Turton among the early considerations. Sarah Rose, previously tied to the post, has opted to join The Royal Foundation led by Prince William and Kate Middleton.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, along with Ofcom, Channel 4, and Wosskow, have not provided any comments on these developments.
Daniel Hayes is a business journalist with a focus on market trends, startups, and corporate strategies.
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