Andy Baker to join Friends Reunited Group as Managing Director

21/05/2008

ITV today announced that Andy Baker will join Friends Reunited Group as managing director. Andy’s role will encompass the overall P&L responsibilities for the Friends Reunited business, Genes Reunited and Friends Reunited dating.

Andy will report to Ben McOwen Wilson, Chief Operating Officer of ITV Consumer, and will take up the post during the summer.

Andy joins Friends Reunited Group from Trinity Mirror plc, where he was Group Director of Digital Recruitment. Andy was responsible for one of the UK’s largest e-recruitment businesses.

Michael Murphy, Tim Ward and Rob Mogford, the three co-owners of Friends Reunited, will all remain with the business until the end of 2008. Michael, the current CEO, will have a period of handover to Andy Baker, before moving to join the Friends Reunited Board as a non-Exec Director. Tim Ward will move from being Marketing Director of Friends Reunited, to a similar role for ITV Consumer, where he will assist with the proposition development of all ITV’s online properties.  Rob Mogford will remain in post as FD, until the end of 2008.
 
Of his appointment Jeff Henry, MD of ITV consumer said: "This is a fantastic recruit for ITV and Friends Reunited and we look forward to the wealth of knowledge and experience that Andy will bring to the role. There have been some significant changes to the Friends Reunited website recently and we hope that this new look site will help ITV to build its online presence and make the transition from traditional broadcaster to a multi-media content provider.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Michael, Tim, Rob and the Friends Reunited team for their hard work over the past three years, during which they have continued to build the incredible strength and breadth of the brand, grown the membership to 21 million members and nearly trebled its profits.”

ENDS

For further enquiries please contact:

ITV plc
Tel: 0844 8818000
Press enquiries
Ruth Settle – Director of Communications

Investor enquiries
Pippa Strong – Head of Investor Relations

Tulchan Communications
Tel: 0207 353 4200
Andrew Grant
Susannah Voyle
Lizzie Morgan

Website: www.itv.com; investor information: www.itvplc.com