Channel 4 shares out Kevin Lygo role

The newly arrived Channel 4 chief executive, David Abraham, has set up a team of senior executives to take over the commissioning and budget responsibilities of Kevin Lygo, the outgoing director of television and content, until a replacement can be found. In an email to staff, Abraham said that while a leaving date had not been finalised for Lygo, who is joining ITV to run its production business , it was "not appropriate for ultimate commissioning and budgetary responsibility to reside with him during this transitional period". Abraham, who joined Channel 4 on Tuesday, will lead an interim commissioning management team containing the head of Channel 4, Julian Bellamy, the controller of broadcasting, Rosemary Newell, and the controller of film and drama, Tessa Ross. "Kevin and I are still discussing the final details of his departure, but the aim is for him to remain at Channel 4 long enough to lend his invaluable experience and insight to this review process," said Abraham. "For obvious reasons however, it isn't appropriate for ultimate commissioning and budgetary responsibility to reside with him during this transitional period." Abraham's interim management group will meet once a week and will have "ultimate sign off of all commissioning decisions". Newell will also take over interim responsibilty for acquisitions and inherit a number of Lygo's direct reports. Paul Mortimer, head of E4, who is covering for Angela Jain while she is on maternity leave, the head of More 4 Hamish Mykura, and the head of Film 4 Julia Wrigley will all report to Newell. Cath Lovesey, acting head of 4Music while Neil McCallum is on sabbatical, will report to Jules Oldroyd, the head of scheduling and T4. Abraham said the interim arrangements would be in place until he finishes a broader structural review of Channel 4, which he announced last week in an all-staff presentation . • To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email [email protected] or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. • If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".