Channel 4 chief executive David Abraham to step down

David Abraham has announced that he will step down as chief executive of Channel 4 by the end of 2017 after seven years in the role. He is leaving to launch a new media enterprise in 2018.

Channel 4 accidentally revealed his departure in a tweet on Tuesday (14 March), which was quickly deleted; however, the broadcaster issued a formal announcement soon after.

“I had three priorities when I joined Channel 4 in 2010: to build an independently sustainable business while still delivering strongly to our public remit; to assemble a team capable of delivering creative renewal post Big Brother; and to become world leaders in digital and data innovation,” Abraham said in a statement.

“After several successive years of positive momentum…I have decided that 2017 is the right year for me to hand over this important public job to my successor.”

Under Abraham’s leadership, Channel 4 revenue has soared from £830 million to more than £1 billion. He will remain chief executive until a replacement has been appointed and is in post.

“Channel 4 matters and I am confident that our stakeholders recognise the unique and significant contribution it will make to the future of UK broadcasting and to the creative industries more broadly,” Abraham said.

“I now look forward to working with the Channel 4 Board to support and hand over to my successor and then begin the next phase of my life – back in the private sector where I hope to build an organisation that makes use of all that I learned from leading different kinds of innovative creative businesses.”

Charles Gurassa, chair of Channel 4, said: “David Abraham has been an outstanding Chief Executive of Channel 4 over the last seven years.

“My colleagues on the Board and I will be undertaking a comprehensive recruitment process over the next months to ensure that Channel 4 continues to have outstanding leadership into the future.”