TV3 has confirmed that Director of Content Jeff Ford will be leaving the Group in April 2015.
Due to family commitments, Jeff has decided to return home to the UK and has accepted a position as General Manager of Fox International Channels UK, based near his home in London.
Ford has stated that his decision was made with great difficulty and although committed to further developing TV3's new schedule which has launched so well (with home-grown productions such as ‘Red Rock’, ‘The Algorithm’ and ‘Ireland’s Oyster Clan launching in 2015), he states that his family considerations had to be foremost.
Jeff Ford, said: ‘It is with great sadness that I leave TV3. It’s been a wonderful period and now is such an exciting time for the Group with so many impressive plans in the schedule for 2015 and beyond. I always intended to leave by the end of 2015, but the arrival of my first grandchild in January brought forward these plans to return to the UK. I have met some wonderful colleagues who have become great friends during my time in Ireland and TV3 will continue to have my support into the future. I wish the company every success.’
Ford was appointed Director of Content in January 2013 and prior to that he was Director of Programming at Channel 5. He has also previously held roles as Director of Acquisitions at Channel 4 and Controller of Acquisitions at ITV.
TV3 Group CEO, David McRedmond said: ‘We are thankful to Jeff for the excellent job he did to accelerate the transformation of TV3 Group into an indigenous producer of content. He also led the creation and launch of the very successful soap ‘Red Rock’. The new schedule, which Jeff has introduced to TV3, is performing ahead of plan, confirming TV3 Groups’ pre-eminence as Ireland’s Number one commercial broadcaster. The programming team is stronger now than at any time in TV3's history with a whole new generation of managers and programme-makers coming through the ranks.’
‘We are advanced in finding Jeff's replacement and hope to confirm an appointment by March.’
