Ashley Highfield is to become the permanent CEO of Kangaroo, the joint venture VOD service, slated to be launched by BBC Worldwide, ITV and Channel 4 later this year. He will take over from interim CEO Lesley Mackenzie.
Highfield joins Kangaroo from the BBC, where he has been Director, Future Media and Technology, and a member of the BBC Executive board. His work has included the successful launch of the iPlayer.
“This is a fantastic opportunity. Kangaroo is a historic partnership with a combination of innovative technology and terrific content and I’m looking forward to transforming the way audiences watch television,” said Highfield.
Kangaroo still requires the approval the BBC Trust and the boards of ITV and Channel 4.
