Denise O’Donoghue is stepping down as managing director of ITV Studios UK.

The Hat Trick Productions co-founder, who joined the commercial producer four years ago, has decided to “scale back” her working commitments but will remain as a member of the board.

“After 30 years in television, I have decided to scale back my working commitments and will leave my role as MD of ITV Studios UK at the end of this year,” she said. “ITV Studios has undergone significant change in its profile, confidence and output, which has enabled us to retain and attract exceptionally talented people. We have added to this with a few judicious and brilliant acquisitions, testimony that ITV Studios is a great place to work.”

Her successor will be announced “in due course,” the company said in a statement.

O’Donoghue has played a key role in growing ITV Studios’ production business through its acquisitions of indie prodcos The Garden and Duck Dynasty producer Gurney Productions, and increasing the company’s drama, entertainment and factual commissions.

Recent ITV Studios UK series include factual titles The Big Reunion and Paul O’Grady’s For The Love of Dogs  and entertainment programs  Big Star’s Little Star and Saturday Night Takeaway.

“A key part of our strategy is to build a strong international content business, creating more of our own programs which are successful here in the UK and internationally,” said Kevin Lygo, managing director of ITV Studios, in a statement. “Denise has played a crucial role in rebuilding the UK production business by bringing in and managing brilliant creative talent, which in turn has resulted in the development of a strong and healthy content pipeline.”