News producer ITN has a new man at the top: John Hardie, EVP and MD of Disney (NYSE: DIS) TV’s operations in EMEA, has been appointed CEO. Hardie increased Disney’s reach in EMEA from seven to 45 million homes in eight years and before that was commercial director at ITV (LSE: ITV) between 1997 and 2001. Just last month Hardie was appointed CEO of Disney-owned kids’ TV network Jetix’s European division.
He will now lead a company that produces ITV News and Channel 4′s daily TV output and has been steadily growing its digital revenues through its ITN On division and a long list of video-syndication deals with partners including FHM, Joost, Livestation and Bebo. The release reminds us that On, as well as video archive wing ITN Source and its Consulting division each had double-digit revenue growth last year.
Hardie says his objective is to create a “robust commercial foundation” on which the company’s journalism can flourish — but admits it’s a “crucial” time for public-service broadcasting, which doesn’t even come close to describing the genuine crisis that commercially funded PSB finds itself in, as manifested in IITV’s £2.7 billion loss for 2008 and the ongoing debate over the future shape of Channel 4. He replaces Mark Wood, who announced his departure in September and left at the end of February. Hardie takes the reins in the summer; until then former Reuters editor-in-chief Geert Linnebank will continue as interim CEO. Release.
UPDATE: Disney has now announced Hardie’s successor: Giorgio Stock, currently SVP and general manager for Italy, is promoted to EVP and MD for Disney’s TV channels across EMEA. He also takes a seat on the board of SRTL, the company’s joint venture with German broadcaster RTL. Stock, who has been with the company since 1995, will move from Milan to London as part of his new role.
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