AO World’s Geoff Cooper appointed Chair of Channel 4

Cooper has over 30 years of board experience across a range of public and private UK companies, including as Chair at Dunelm, Card Factory, Brakes, and Bourne Leisure, and as a non-executive director at Informa and Abbey National. 

His executive career includes nearly 10 years as CEO at Travis Perkins and as Deputy Chief Executive at Alliance UniChem, having previously been its Group Finance Director.  

Cooper’s appointment for a three-year term was announced by media regulator Ofcom, and has been approved by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Rt. Hon. Lisa Nandy MP. 

Nandy said: "Channel 4 is a treasured national institution with a track record of creating cutting-edge television which reflects Britain in all its diversity. I look forward to seeing Geoff Cooper help Channel 4 continue to provide top-quality programmes and adapt to the changing media landscape."   

Lord Grade, Chair of Ofcom, said: “Geoff Cooper’s appointment follows an exhaustive and competitive recruitment process. He demonstrated the stand-out qualities needed to steer Channel 4 to a sustainable future.” 

Cooper said: “I am delighted to be appointed as Chair of Channel 4 and to be involved in its continued success as a significant influence on the nation’s society, culture, creative industries, and wider economy. 

“Channel 4’s people, partners in the independent production sector and wider media landscape, and viewers are vital in representing unheard voices, challenging with purpose and reinventing entertainment, and I look forward to serving all of them”. 

Channel 4 recently announced that Alex Mahon will step down as CEO this summer. Mahon joined the organisation in 2017 as the channel’s first female CEO. Discover more here.