CEO | Channel 4

Alex Mahon is the CEO of Channel 4 the British public-service television broadcaster. Channel 4 is a publicly-owned and commercially-funded family of channels with a statutory remit to deliver high- quality, innovative, alternative content that challenges the status quo. The business is funded by advertising with revenues of £1bn annually and has a unique purpose to innovate, take creative risks, inspire positive change and ensure that all of Great Britain is represented in its programmes.

Alex was CEO of Foundry the leading design and visual and 3D effects software firm from 2015-2017 under its ownership by Hg Capital. Foundry is at the heart of the creative industries and technology sectors in London making software for the virtual reality, design and entertainment industries.

Before Alex moved into technology she spent 15 years running creative production companies with her focus on high growth, international and entrepreneurial businesses. She was CEO of Shine Group which she joined in 2006 and with partners built the group through M&A and organic growth into an organisation with 27 creative labels in 12 countries, and brands including MasterChef, Biggest Loser, Broadchurch, Spooks & The Bridge. Prior to this she had a career in media across Europe, at Talkback Thames, FremantleMedia Group and RTL Group. She started off as a PhD Physicist and then an internet consultant at Mitchell Madison Group.

Alex’s previous non exec positions include Deputy Chairman at Foundry, Senior Independent Director at Ocado Plc, co-Founder of tech start-up WeAreTV. Alex is a supporter of the creative industries and has been Chairman of Royal Television Society Programme Awards, Non-Exec on the Edinburgh International Television Festival, and a member of the Government’s DCMS Advisory Panel on the BBC. She has also previously been Appeal Chair of The Scar Free Foundation – a national charity funding pioneering and transformative medical research into disfigurement. She is currently a member of the UK government Creative Industries Council.

Alex has a particular interest in diversity and how to foster inclusive cultures in the workplace. This includes work on mentoring across underrepresented groups, founder membership of women’s development network WitsEnd, chairing of employee groups focused on LGBTQ+ and BAME representation in the workplace and opening up the media industry to those from socially diverse backgrounds. 

MIA | Drama Speakers 2019