Channel 4 programming chief Ian Katz to leave after nearly nine years

Exit of former Newsnight editor as chief content officer comes after appointment of new CEO Priya Dogra Channel 4’s content chief, Ian Katz, who holds responsibility for the broadcaster’s £650m annual programming budget and output, is to leave after almost nine years in the post. Katz, a former senior executive at the Guardian, became the channel’s director of programmes in January 2018 after moving from the BBC where he was editor of Newsnight. He was made chief content officer in January 2021 and will depart the post in October, making him Channel 4’s longest-serving head of programming. Katz is the latest high-profile executive to depart Channel 4 after the appointment of the new chief executive, Priya Dogra, from Sky. In February, Jonathan Allan, who held the role of interim chief executive after the departure of Alex Mahon, announced his resignation after 15 years at Channel 4. Katz – who was paid £720,000, including a £238,000 bonus, according to Channel 4’s latest accounts for 2024 – was a key member of the team that helped fend the previous Conservative government’s campaign to privatise the broadcaster, which was finally abandoned three years ago. “It’s been a privilege be