EXCLUSIVE: Channel 4 strategy chief Khalid Hayat is exiting after five years.
The news was revealed yesterday in an all-staff email seen by Deadline from interim CEO Jonathan Allan, who also set out a temporary change in reporting structure as CEO Alex Mahon gets set to exit. Hayat will leave in September and succession plans will be announced in due course.
Allan said Hayat, Channel 4’s Director of Strategy & Consumer Insight who has been with the broadcaster since 2020, is exiting “to explore new challenges and I’d like to thank him for all the sterling work he has down for C4 through the many challenges that have presented themselves.”
During his tenure, Hayat, who used to work for ITV, has been part of a nations and regions relocation, successful battle to avoid privatization, digital strategy and a Fast Forward plan.
He told Deadline it had “been a privilege to do my bit to contribute to Channel 4’s digital transformation over recent years,” as he flagged successes like a “refresh of strategic direction through Future4 and Fast Forward, navigating the complexities of the privatisation debate and securing a new licence that positions Channel 4 confidently for the next decade.”
“I’m confident Channel 4 is in a strong place to take on whatever comes next,” he added. “When I do depart, I’ll leave as a friend and admirer of Channel 4 – and I’m honoured to have spent five fantastic years here.”
Interim CEO Allan is about to take over temporarily from the departing Mahon and he set out a reorganization of reporting lines “on a temporary basis until a new CEO arrives” in his all-staffer, noting that he would “just have too many direct reports to manage the business effectively” if things remained the same.
Changes include Film4’s Farhana Bhula and Director of Equity and Inclusion Marcia Williams reporting to Chief Commercial Affairs Officer Martin Baker, Chief Commercial Officer Rak Patel taking responsibility for 4Ventures and nations and regions boss Sinead Rocks taking on policy and public affairs.
Allan said he will hold Q&A sessions in all Channel 4 offices over the next month.
The news comes at a time of change for Channel 4, which has also lost chair Ian Cheshire and Film4/TV drama boss Ollie Madden.
