Five’s Chambers quits as Opie appointed

Published Monday 30 October 2006 at 18:05 by Liz Thomas

Dan Chambers, director of programmes at Five, is stepping down from the role after former Flextech managing director Lisa Opie was parachuted in over his head in the newly-created post as managing director of content.

The broadcaster has said that the decision was a “mutual agreement” but insiders have feared that the channel’s poor ratings in recent months meant that it was only a matter of time before the popular executive would go.

One source told The Stage: “It isn’t a huge shock but the only surprise is the speed with which this has happened. Figures haven’t been great this year so it has been a question of when rather than if.”

It is understood that Five chief executive Jane Lighting has been keen to hire Opie since she announced her intention to leave Flextech. Opie will now replace Chambers on the company board. If a new director of programmes is instated it will be a non-board position and they will have to report to Opie.

Another insider said: “It is terribly sad. Dan really is one of the good guys and I’ve no doubt that he will end up as a head of factual or something similar at one of the leading independents. I presume that he would have been told that that his role was going to be diminished and he, as you would, thought ‘no thanks’.”

The move comes at a time when the broadcaster is expanding into new digital television and it seems that with the overhaul a new management structure is being created to tackle the challenge of running a number of different stations.

Lighting said: “Dan has done a good job at Five and has been a wonderful colleague. However we now need a creative director with the skills and expertise to run a portfolio of channels. I worked with Lisa during my time at Flextech and I know that she has the expertise and ability to take Five into the next phase of its digital strategy and to develop our content strategy across all platforms.”

Opie has been managing director at Flextech Television for more than three years, and was responsible for creative and commercial management of Living TV, Living TV2, Bravo, Trouble, Challenge and Ftn. She also spent time as director of programmes and executive vice president at the organisation.

She said: “I am delighted to be joining Five during this most exciting period in its history. Five has fantastic content and a unique position in the market. I’m looking forward to working with the team to build a distinctive digital portfolio.”

It is understood that a start date has yet to be confirmed.