TV3 director of content Jeff Ford is to leave the station in April. In a statement, TV3 said Ford is moving back to the UK due to family commitments. He plans to take up a new position as general manager of Fox International Channels UK, based near his home in London. The statement added that Ford’s decision was made with “great difficulty”. Although committed to further developing TV3’s new schedule, family considerations had to come first.
Ford joined TV3 two years ago as replacement for Ben Frow when he moved back to the UK. Ford was responsible for the channel’s programme strategy and output across TV3 and 3e, including the new Red Rock soap. Ford had been director of programming at Channel 5, which became the only free-to-air channel to grow share in the UK in 2012. He was previously director of acquisitions at Channel 4 and ITV’s controller of acquisitions.
His career began as a film editor at the BBC where he worked for 10 years. He grew up in London and is married with two grown-up daughters. TV3 chief executive David McRedmond described Ford’s recruitment at the time as a “major coup”. He said the appointment of someone with Ford’s experience allowed TV3 to build on Frow’s “brilliant, creative work”.
TV3 hopes to announce Ford’s replacement next month.
