Channel 4 today unveiled new leadership for its Commissioning team, built around three Director roles reporting to the Chief Executive. Louisa Compton and Kiran Nataraja, alongside a third Director yet to be recruited, will together lead the Commissioning team. The structure will come into effect when Ian Katz leaves the channel later this year.
The new structure is designed to give clear and dedicated focus across three distinct areas. The three new Director roles will report to Channel 4 CEO, Priya Dogra.
The Director of News, Digital and Audience Trust plus the Director of Programmes will have end-to-end editorial ownership of their areas, defining the overall vision from a creative, editorial and brand perspective. They will be responsible for overall strategy, talent development, and ensuring the availability of commissionable content designed to deliver against Channel 4’s remit and audience priorities. Meanwhile, the Director of Content Strategy is a critical enabling role, ensuring that the commissioning system operates with clarity and discipline and delivers on overall performance.
The new model embeds Channel 4’s distinctive editorial voice at its core, strengthening its ability to deliver bold, innovative and trusted content that represents audiences across the UK. For producers, it means clearer commissioning priorities, faster and more transparent decision-making, and a more integrated route from development through to delivery and performance.
Priya Dogra, Channel 4 CEO, said: “Independent producers are at the heart of Channel 4, and this new model is about giving them greater clarity and building deeper partnerships in how we work together. With incredibly strong creative leadership and clear accountability across our portfolios, we can back the best ideas with confidence and deliver distinctive programmes that cut through. Both Louisa and Kiran are outstanding leaders and well respected for their craft, and I’m confident that they – alongside the Director of Programmes – will make sure Channel 4 programming remains as distinctive, as relevant and as rebellious as ever, wherever and however our audiences watch.”
Louisa Compton said: "Trusted, fact-checked and duly impartial journalism has never mattered more. Channel 4 has a unique role in telling stories others don't, asking difficult questions and bringing new perspectives to audiences across the UK. This new structure gives us the focus and agility to move faster, back ambitious ideas and create even greater impact across our amazing portfolio of content. I am delighted to be working with the Digital team and to continue to work with the Specialist Factual and Sport teams.”
Kiran Nataraja said: “In today's market, success depends not just on great ideas, but on how effectively you deliver them. This role is about connecting the entire system, so that from commissioning through to performance, we’re backing the right ideas in the right way and giving them the best chance to succeed.”
Ian Katz, Channel 4’s outgoing Chief Content Officer, leaves the company in November after almost nine years leading the broadcaster’s content strategy. Katz is the longest serving content chief in Channel 4’s history.
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Notes to editors:
About Channel 4
Channel 4 exists to create change through entertainment. Publicly owned yet commercially funded, Channel 4 generates significant and sustainable cultural, economic and social impact across the UK – at no cost to the taxpayer.
The broadcaster’s distinctive remit is set by Parliament, and it has a role to represent unheard voices, challenge with purpose and reinvent entertainment. For more than 40 years, it has been a British success story, engaging generation after generation of young people.
Working with hundreds of creative companies every year, Channel 4 makes a major contribution to the local, regional and national economy, creating and supporting thousands of jobs and businesses across the country.
In 2024, Channel 4 launched its Fast Forward strategy to accelerate its transformation into an agile and genuinely digital-first public service streamer by 2030. It is designed to ensure Channel 4 embraces the generational shift in TV viewing, elevates its impact across the UK and stands out in a crowded market.
From its bases in London, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol and Glasgow, Channel 4 is fully committed to harnessing the power of its regional structure to increase its impact across the UK. Through its training and development initiative 4Skills is opening up opportunities in broadcasting, with a particular focus on disadvantaged young people and addressing skills gaps across the Nations and Regions. 4Skills invests millions in training, development and learning opportunities annually.
Through Film4 Productions, Channel 4 also invests in British filmmakers to huge critical acclaim, producing 43 Oscar wins and 97 BAFTA wins in its history.
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