ITV programme strategy chief exiting

David Bergg, head of programme strategy at ITV is leaving the UK broadcaster.

He will leave in early 2017 and be replaced by Rosemary Newell, ITV’s head of digital channels and acquisitions.

Industry veteran Bergg has worked at different ITV franchise companies in the 1980s before going on to work for UK pubcaster the BBC and commercial net Channel 5, before rejoining ITV.

He has also been a channel chief at Sky, briefly running the pay TV operator’s flagship Sky One net in 2000.

“The spotlight invariably falls on the commissioning team when a show is a success, but scheduling is often the unsung hero when it comes to helping to create those hits,” said ITV director of television Kevin Lygo.

“David has been building brilliant schedules at ITV since 1997 and is not only a genius at finding the right spot for new programmes, but his experience and expertise has also helped shaped the shows which have gone on to become ratings winners.”

Bergg added that it was time to move on without indicating what his next move would be.

“The time has come for me to move on and do something different and I’m delighted to be passing on the baton to Rosemary,” he said.

“Readers of a certain age may remember that Ro and I jointly ran the BBC scheduling team from an office on the sixth floor of TV Centre in 1996.  There’s no-one in the industry as experienced and capable as Ro is at delivering success for ITV in the coming years.”