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Wimps need not apply, says ITV headhunter

Saeed Shah
Thursday 13 November 2003 01:00 GMT
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The Zygos Partnership, the headhunter, has been hired to find a new chairman for ITV, and is looking for someone from outside the media industry.

John Viney, a founding partner at Zygos, said there was a "logic" to recruiting from outside the media sector. "It's a small, incestuous industry. Those in it may well have conflicts," he said.

Zygos was set up only a year ago, although its three founding partners are highly experienced operators. Mr Viney said: "We're looking for the most stunning chairman that can be found, though someone who's independent. The sheer weight of the person matters here. By that I mean weight, gravitas. Wimps needn't apply."

Mr Viney said the search would be global. He added that "we'll have to be imaginative with this one", pointing to the new Higgs code on corporate governance, which seems to rule out any existing FTSE 100 chairmen for the job.

Carlton and Granada are in the process of merging to form a single ITV company but need to find a chairman in time for completion of the deal, expected early in the New Year. Carlton's Michael Green, who was supposed to occupy the job, was forced to step down after a shareholder revolt.

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