ITV, the prominent U.K. television network, has announced the addition of Marjorie Kaplan, a former top executive at Discovery, to its board of directors as an independent non-executive director, effective September 1.
Kaplan’s extensive experience in the global media industry spans two decades, during which she played a crucial role in overseeing significant growth and revenue opportunities at multiple major networks in the U.S. under Discovery’s purview. According to THR, Her responsibilities also included strategizing, coordinating, and executing global content activities across the company’s international portfolio.
ITV highlighted Kaplan’s notable achievements as a change agent, credited with transforming and expanding global brands and businesses, and building vibrant organizations. She currently holds positions as a professional mentor and head of faculty at Merryck & Co., where experienced CEOs and top business leaders collaborate to accelerate the impact of leadership.
Additionally, Kaplan serves as a non-executive director for German TV giant ProSiebenSat.1 Media and ArtDAI, a financial technology firm focused on fine art data, analytics, and intelligence.
Andrew Cosslett, the chair of ITV, expressed enthusiasm about Kaplan’s appointment, praising her expertise in content and audience strategy, which he believes will enrich the diverse mix of skills and experience on the board.
In her statement, Kaplan emphasized the significance of this moment in the media industry and expressed excitement in joining ITV during its adaptive phase to the changing business landscape. She commended the company’s leadership position in production, broadcasting, and streaming and conveyed her anticipation of working closely with the board and executive team as they continue to drive the company’s strategic transformation forward.
ITV’s financial performance for the first half of the year was reported to be lower, attributed to challenges in the advertising market and investments in the company’s streaming service, ITVX.