Abraham leaves UKTV for Channel 4

UKTV chief executive David Abraham is to leave the multichannel broadcaster to become chief executive of Channel 4. Abraham will replace Andy Duncan, who stood down from the post in November.

“David is a rare commodity as a broadcaster in that he has an exceptional track record as an innovative leader, both creatively and commercially, commented Channel 4 chairman Lord Burns. “At all stages of his career he’s led creative teams and commissioned creative output of the highest quality in a commercial environment. It is that experience, we believe, that so well qualifies him for the challenge of running a commercially funded, public service broadcaster like Channel 4”.

Abraham was appointed chief executive of UKTV in April 2007 from Discovery Networks USA, where he had been president and general manager of TLC for two years. In a 20-year career on both sides of the Atlantic he has also served as general manager, Discovery Networks UK and was a founding partner and Chief Operating Officer at leading independent advertising agency St Luke’s.

While at UKTV, Abraham used to feel for marketing with the relaunch of UKTV G2 as Dave, a brand that led to the repositioning of the entire UKTV portfolio, both on screen and online.