Dawn Airey has been appointed director of global content at ITV and will take up the role in October.

Airey "will be responsible for developing ITV's UK and international production, distribution and content exploitation businesses," the broadcaster announced this afternoon. Her remit will cover ITV Productions, Granada Ventures, Granada International and ITV's international production businesses in America, Australia and Germany.

It is understood that ITV reached an agreement with Sky, Airey's former employer, allowing her to take up the post earlier than would have otherwise been permitted. Airey left Sky in March to join Iostar, a company which she left eight days into the job after funding issues were uncovered. Iostar has since gone into liquidation.

"It's wonderful to return to my alma mater," said Airey. "It's an incredibly exciting time to be joining ITV and I'm looking forward to working with some of the UK's best production talent. Together with John Whiston and his creative team, I'm confident that we can deliver the programmes and content that Simon Shaps and his commissioners want in order to continue the reinvigoration of ITV1. ITV has strong and growing international production and distribution businesses and I'm thrilled about having the opportunity to help develop them further."

Airey will report to ITV chief operating officer John Cresswell. In a statement, Cresswell said:

"This is great news for ITV and a great job for Dawn. I'm delighted she's joining us to build the content business which continues to be at the heart of our growth strategy."

Michael Grade, ITV's executive chairman, added that Airey's appointment "significantly strengthens the senior management team."