Andy Duncan (executive)
Encyclopedia
Andy Duncan was chief executive of Britain's Channel 4
television channel from July 2004 to November 2009, the first not to have a background in programme making. He was previously director of marketing, communications and audiences at the BBC
and the founding chairman of Freeview. After a year running a luxury car business, he became managing director of the company that runs the UK National Lottery in October 2011.
, an independent school
in South Croydon
, London, and at Manchester Institute of Technology
, from which he graduated with a BSc in management sciences.
In 1984 he joined Unilever
and worked his way up through the company. In 1995 Duncan was appointed Van Den Bergh Foods business unit chairman and marketing controller for spreads and margarine
s. He was responsible for the sponsorship of the London Marathon
by one of his brands, a partnership that lasted 14 yearsFlora
. He also built the I Can't Believe It's Not Butter
brand.
In 1997 he became Van Den Bergh Foods marketing director, and between January and December 1999 he was chairman of the Tea Council.
In December 1999 he became European category director for Unilever's Foods and Beverages division, responsible for over €3 billion of turnover and around 10% of the corporation's global profits. . He was also a member of the Unilever's global category board.
While at the BBC he was nicknamed "The Implementer" and was known for his informal style. He supervised the expansion of the corporation's digital output including the launches of BBC 3 and 4, and Cbeebies and became chairman of Freeview, which took over the UK's digital terrestrial television service after the collapse of ITV Digital
. To the surprise of many, Freeview became a fast-growing brand and in twenty months reached four million homes. It is now in over 15 million homes. Duncan played a key role in the success of Freeview. . He was named Marketer of the Year in 2003.
On 1 July 2004 Duncan was appointed chief executive of Channel 4
. He took up the job on 19 July 2004. During his time there he oversaw the company's emergence as a genuine multi-platform media business. Channel 4's share of Total UK TV viewing grew from 10% to 12% and its share of the TV advertising market increased every year to a record 25% in 2009.
Duncan presided over the Celebrity Big Brother racism débacle
, which provoked a record number of 45,000 complaints to Ofcom
, the UK television watchdog. Ofcom found that Channel 4 had made "serious editorial misjudgements" in its handling of incidents involving Indian actress Shilpa Shetty
. Labour MP Keith Vaz
, who led protests in Parliament over the issue, called for Duncan to resign. Duncan admitted publicly that lessons had been learnt and Channel 4 took steps to handle subsequent issues better. Under Duncan’s leadership, Channel 4 also won record numbers of creative and marketing awards including 13 Oscars.
On Wednesday 16 September 2009, it was announced that Andy Duncan was to resign from Channel 4. He left the channel on 17 November 2009
Duncan has chaired the Media Trust, a communications charity, since 2006. He joined the board of HMV Group plc in March 2009. He is also a trustee of Oasis Trust
, the social action charity. He also advises the British Museum’s Chairman and Director General.
Duncan was CEO of H.R.Owen plc, an upmarket car business, for a year from September 2010. In October 2011 he was appointed UK managing director of Camelot Group
, the operators of the British National Lottery
.
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
television channel from July 2004 to November 2009, the first not to have a background in programme making. He was previously director of marketing, communications and audiences at the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and the founding chairman of Freeview. After a year running a luxury car business, he became managing director of the company that runs the UK National Lottery in October 2011.
Career in marketing
Duncan was educated at Whitgift SchoolWhitgift School
Whitgift School is an independent day school educating approximately 1,400 boys aged 10 to 18 in South Croydon, London in a parkland site.- History and grounds :...
, an independent school
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
in South Croydon
South Croydon
South Croydon is a locality in Greater London, the area surrounding the valley south of central Croydon about 1 km in radius, centred on the Red Deer public house on the Brighton Road. It is part of the South Croydon post town and in the London Borough of Croydon...
, London, and at Manchester Institute of Technology
UMIST
The University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology was a university based in the centre of the city of Manchester in England. It specialised in technical and scientific subjects and was a major centre for research...
, from which he graduated with a BSc in management sciences.
In 1984 he joined Unilever
Unilever
Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....
and worked his way up through the company. In 1995 Duncan was appointed Van Den Bergh Foods business unit chairman and marketing controller for spreads and margarine
Margarine
Margarine , as a generic term, can indicate any of a wide range of butter substitutes, typically composed of vegetable oils. In many parts of the world, the market share of margarine and spreads has overtaken that of butter...
s. He was responsible for the sponsorship of the London Marathon
London Marathon
The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
by one of his brands, a partnership that lasted 14 yearsFlora
Unilever
Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....
. He also built the I Can't Believe It's Not Butter
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! is a butter substitute produced by Becel/Flora/Promise, which is a subsidiary of Unilever. It was introduced to the United States in 1986 and later to the United Kingdom and Canada in 1991. The product was put on the market in Germany in 2011. Due to the length of...
brand.
In 1997 he became Van Den Bergh Foods marketing director, and between January and December 1999 he was chairman of the Tea Council.
In December 1999 he became European category director for Unilever's Foods and Beverages division, responsible for over €3 billion of turnover and around 10% of the corporation's global profits. . He was also a member of the Unilever's global category board.
Career
In 2001 Duncan joined the BBC as director of marketing and communications on the BBC Executive Board. In July 2003 his title changed to director of marketing, communications and audiences. He was also a member of the BBC commercial holdings board and Creative Board.While at the BBC he was nicknamed "The Implementer" and was known for his informal style. He supervised the expansion of the corporation's digital output including the launches of BBC 3 and 4, and Cbeebies and became chairman of Freeview, which took over the UK's digital terrestrial television service after the collapse of ITV Digital
ITV Digital
ITV Digital was a British digital terrestrial television broadcaster, which launched a pay-TV service on the world's first digital terrestrial television network as ONdigital in 1998 and briefly re-branded as ITV Digital in July 2001, before the service ceased in May 2002. Its main shareholders...
. To the surprise of many, Freeview became a fast-growing brand and in twenty months reached four million homes. It is now in over 15 million homes. Duncan played a key role in the success of Freeview. . He was named Marketer of the Year in 2003.
On 1 July 2004 Duncan was appointed chief executive of Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
. He took up the job on 19 July 2004. During his time there he oversaw the company's emergence as a genuine multi-platform media business. Channel 4's share of Total UK TV viewing grew from 10% to 12% and its share of the TV advertising market increased every year to a record 25% in 2009.
Duncan presided over the Celebrity Big Brother racism débacle
Celebrity Big Brother racism controversy
The Celebrity Big Brother racism controversy was a series of events related to incidents of perceived racist behaviour by contestants on the television series Celebrity Big Brother 2007 shown on British television station Channel 4...
, which provoked a record number of 45,000 complaints to Ofcom
Ofcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
, the UK television watchdog. Ofcom found that Channel 4 had made "serious editorial misjudgements" in its handling of incidents involving Indian actress Shilpa Shetty
Shilpa Shetty
Shilpa Shetty is an Indian film actress and model. Since making her debut in the film Baazigar , she has appeared in nearly 40 Bollywood, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films, her first leading role being in the 1994 Aag. Although she has been through years of decline during her career, Shetty has been...
. Labour MP Keith Vaz
Keith Vaz
Nigel Keith Anthony Standish Vaz, known as Keith Vaz, was born 26 November 1956 in Aden, Yemen.Keith Vaz is a British Labour Party politician and a Member of Parliament for Leicester East, He is the longest serving Asian MP and has been the Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee since July...
, who led protests in Parliament over the issue, called for Duncan to resign. Duncan admitted publicly that lessons had been learnt and Channel 4 took steps to handle subsequent issues better. Under Duncan’s leadership, Channel 4 also won record numbers of creative and marketing awards including 13 Oscars.
On Wednesday 16 September 2009, it was announced that Andy Duncan was to resign from Channel 4. He left the channel on 17 November 2009
Duncan has chaired the Media Trust, a communications charity, since 2006. He joined the board of HMV Group plc in March 2009. He is also a trustee of Oasis Trust
Oasis Trust
Oasis Trust is a UK-based Christian registered charity. It was founded by Rev Steve Chalke in August 1985, who had been assistant minister at Tonbridge Baptist Church, Kent, for four years...
, the social action charity. He also advises the British Museum’s Chairman and Director General.
Duncan was CEO of H.R.Owen plc, an upmarket car business, for a year from September 2010. In October 2011 he was appointed UK managing director of Camelot Group
Camelot Group
Camelot GroupCamelot is a private limited company, its entire share issue is owned by a single shareholder, as detailed above. are the operators of the UK National Lottery. Camelot Group was awarded the National Lottery franchise in 1993 and was re-awarded the franchise in 2001 and again in 2007...
, the operators of the British National Lottery
National Lottery (United Kingdom)
The National Lottery is the state-franchised national lottery in the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man.It is operated by Camelot Group, to whom the licence was granted in 1994, 2001 and again in 2007. The lottery is regulated by the National Lottery Commission, and was established by the then...
.