ITV chief quits

The chief executive of ITV in the UK is to quit in the wake of the ITV Digital collapse.

Stuart Prebble, who was also the chief executive of ITV Digital, will leave later this month.

"I came back to the ITV Network Centre a year ago to try to bring together ITV's channels and platform businesses. Unfortunately that role is now not available, and this therefore seems like an excellent moment to move on," said Mr Prebble.

"I want to thank the excellent team at ITV Digital and ITV Network. I leave ITV with some important challenges but a tremendous resource of talent and determination. I wish them well."

ITV's major shareholders have confirmed that Mick Desmond, Managing Director Granada Broadcasting & Enterprises and Clive Jones, Chief Executive of Carlton Channels, will become joint Managing Directors of ITV.

The ITV independent commissioning structure and networking arrangements are unaffected.

Stuart Prebble, was appointed Chief Executive of ITV in April 2001.

Previously he was Chief Executive of ONdigital since July 1999, before which he was Managing Director of Channels and Interactive Media at Granada Media Group.

Before that he was chief executive of Granada Sky Broadcasting.