Charles Allen (businessman)

Charles Allen (born 4 January 1957) is Chairman of Global Radio Group, non executive director of Virgin Media, Senior Advisor to Goldman Sachs was Chief Executive of Granada Group Plc from 1996 till 2000, Executive Chairman of Granada Media Plc 2000 to 2004, Chief Executive ofITV plc from its formation in 2004 until 2007 and Chairman of EMI the music company from 2008 to 2010.

Criticism

Mr Allen now holds a high profiles range of directorships and media roles. However, the irony is that over 20 years ago he was criticised as having too little media experience to have taken on the monumental role of chief executive of Granada. He now holds positions across a number of media sector companies.

Television

He joined Granada Group In 1991, as CEO of Granada TV, he became GroupChief Executive During the next several years he was instrumental in the takeovers of Forte Hotels for £3.9 billion in 1997 and the takeovers of LWT and Yorkshire-Tyne Tees Television in 1994 and 1999 respectively. In 2001 Granada Group merged with Compass to form Granada Compass, then demerged into Granada Media Plc and Compass Group. He remained with Granada when the two companies demerged and became Executive Chairman of Granada plc in 2001. When Granada merged with Carlton Communications to form ITV plc, Allen became the new company's Chief Executive.

ITV plc announced on 8 August 2006 that Allen was...
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