Channel 4 has officially confirmed that Priya Dogra, former Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Europe chief and current Sky executive, has been appointed as its eighth Chief Executive Officer. She will replace Alex Mahon and take up the role in March 2026, with Jonathan Allan continuing as interim CEO until then.
Dogra’s appointment marks a historic moment; she becomes the first person of colour ever to lead a British television broadcaster.
Dogra brings over two decades of senior leadership experience at major global media organisations. She spent 14 years at Time Warner, WarnerMedia, and WBD, rising to President and Managing Director, EMEA after the Warner Bros.–Discovery merger. There, she oversaw a broad portfolio of channels, streaming businesses, commercial operations, and content partnerships across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Before joining Sky in 2024, where she led advertising, group data, and new revenue initiatives for the Comcast-owned broadcaster, Dogra headed mergers and acquisitions for WarnerMedia and played key roles in major industry transactions.
Her move to Channel 4 comes at a pivotal time for the network, which is accelerating its shift to digital-first commissioning, modern revenue streams, and deeper regional impact amid growing competition from global streaming giants.
Channel 4’s Chair Geoff Cooper called Dogra a “visionary leader” with a “formidable intellect,” adding: “She has impressive experience in driving commercial growth and digital transformation, as well as building collaborative partnerships. Priya also possesses a passion for Channel 4 and a deep understanding of its public service remit. She is ideally equipped to lead the business through its next chapter.”
Cooper’s comments highlight the board’s confidence in Dogra to steer the broadcaster through the most important phase in its 42-year history.
In her first statement following the announcement, Dogra said: “Joining Channel 4 at this moment is a genuine privilege. Few organisations sit so firmly at the heart of British culture or have such a clear purpose, to challenge, to reflect and represent voices across the UK, and to spark change through entertainment.”
She added that she looks forward to accelerating Channel 4’s digital ambitions and deepening its bond with audiences across all platforms.
Dogra emerged from a competitive and secretive recruitment round led by Channel 4’s chair and the global executive search firm Spencer Stuart. Other final contenders included:
- Jonathan Allan, interim CEO and COO of Channel 4
- Emma Lloyd, Netflix VP of Partnerships (EMEA), who withdrew
- Reemah Sakaan, former BritBox CEO
Dogra’s candidacy was closely guarded until the Financial Times broke the news this morning.
What’s Next for Alex Mahon?
Outgoing CEO Alex Mahon, who has led Channel 4 since 2017, will remain until Dogra starts. Mahon delivered major achievements, including:
- Record digital growth
- Operational and cultural transformation
- Significant expansion beyond London with hubs in Leeds, Bristol, and Glasgow
In a notable industry twist, Mahon is being widely discussed as a potential successor to Tim Davie as BBC Director-General.
Dogra’s appointment comes as UK broadcasters face rapidly changing viewer behaviour, global streaming competition, and pressure to diversify revenue sources. Her experience in digital transformation, commercial growth, and international operations positions her to guide Channel 4 through this evolving media landscape.
With her selection, Channel 4 signals not only a bold new chapter in its leadership but also a continuing commitment to public service broadcasting, cultural representation, and cutting-edge content creation.
