Channel 4 Poaches Kavanagh From BBC
Channel 4 has appointed the BBC’s Damian Kavanagh as Head of Features and Factual Formats.
In his new role, Kavanagh will oversee all Channel 4 programming across Factual Entertainment, Features and Daytime.
Head of Factual Entertainment, Liam Humphreys, Deputy Head of Features, Andrew Jackson, and Head of Formats, Dominic Bird, will all report directly into Kavanagh. He will report into Chief Creative Officer Jay Hunt who commented: "Damian has a great track record creatively and is an inspiring leader. He also has a knack for being able to translate great audience insight into unmissable shows and this makes him invaluable."
At the BBC, Kavanagh was controller of CBBC where he oversaw all programmes and multiplatform commissioning for the CBBC channel as well as children's output on BBC1 and BBC2. He was previously head of planning and scheduling for Daytime at the BBC, and executive produced programmes including Escape to the Country and Hospital Heroes. He has also worked as an independent commissioning executive on shows such as The Sorcerer's Apprentice and The Underdog Show.
Commenting on his appointment, he said: "I'm delighted to be joining Channel 4. There's a lot of creative renewal already under way and I'm absolutely passionate about commissioning innovative & talked-about programmes."
