Ofcom has appointed former advertising executive and current Channel 4 non-executive director MT Rainey as deputy chair of the broadcaster.
Rainey will take on the role reporting to recently appointed chairman Charles Gurassa, the former Easyjet deputy chairman who replaced Lord Burns earlier this year, with immediate effect.
She replaces former Waitrose boss Mark Price, who was initially tipped to take over as chairman from Burns. Price stood down on 1 April to take up a peerage and role as trade minister for the foreign office.
Rainey was a founding partner of advertising agency Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe, which is now owned by WPP and is also an adviser to, and former chairman of, digital advertising agency Think Ltd.
Gurassa said: “I am delighted that MT Rainey has been appointed our new deputy chair. She brings a wealth of highly relevant experience from her working life and from her many years on our board. I very much look forward to working with her in her new role.”
Rainey will be tasked with helping guide Channel 4 through a government review, which is considering ownership options including privatisation. Burns was a vocal opponent of any attempt to privatise Channel 4, while Gurassa has experience of taking companies public after overseeing the flotation of Virgin Mobile.
Ofcom chair Patricia Hodgson said: “I am delighted that we have appointed MT Rainey as deputy chairman of Channel 4. She is a high-calibre appointment who already has significant understanding and experience of Channel 4.”
Though Ofcom appoints the Channel 4 board members, they are signed off by the secretary of state for culture, John Whittingsale.
