London-based documentary and factual indie Rare TV has named former Channel 4 executive Alexander Gardiner as CEO.
The BAFTA- and Peabody Award-winning creative (pictured) most recently served as consultant commissioning editor at UK pubcaster Channel 4 following a four-year stint as managing director of Shiver, where he led the restructuring of the ITV Studios-owned factual label.
He additionally served as creative director for the factual north arm of ITV Studios, overseeing a reorganization of the team, its structures and finances. His production credentials include co-executive producing the first season of reality series I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, launching ITV’s flagship political series Peston on Sunday, and overseeing Exposure: The Other Side of Jimmy Savile.
Gardiner replaces Rare TV’s Antony Fraser, who departed the UK indie last week in pursuit of new challenges. Fraser co-founded the production outfit in 2013 alongside Joel Denton, and oversaw the company’s majority acquisition in London and Northern Ireland-based indie 360Production and the integration of Screenchannel a year later.
“In addition to Alex’s unquestionable media and TV credentials to lead Rare through the next chapter of its development, Alex has a very strong sense of ethics and desire to make a positive impact on our community as demonstrated by his numerous voluntary activities focused at ‘giving back’,” said Graham Coxell, non-executive chairman of Rare, in a statement. “It was these credentials, and Alex’s values which made him a stand out candidate to take on the role as CEO of Rare amongst some very strong competition.”