Former C4 chief Duncan joins car dealer

Former Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan has been appointed the new boss of upmarket car dealer HR Owen.

After joining Channel 4 in 2004, Duncan won praise for changing E4 and Film4 from subscription channels to free-to-air, as well as launching digital channel More4.

However, he left Channel 4 last year after failing to secure more financial assistance for the broadcaster from the government. He walked away with a reported final payoff of £1.48m.

Duncan was previously an executive board member at the BBC and a founding chairman of Freeview. Prior to his broadcasting career, he spent 17 years at Unilever.

On October 4, Duncan will officially become the new chief executive of London-based HR Owen, which sells a range of luxury car brands.

"HR Owen is an exciting business which sells even more exciting products in a challenging and dynamic industry," said Duncan.

"I am delighted to be joining as the new CEO, and I am looking forward to working with my new colleagues to build a strong and successful future for the company."

HR Owen chairman Jon Walden added: "It is a real coup for the company to attract an individual of Andy's calibre.

"His outstanding track record in general management, marketing and sales, together with his extensive experience of the fast-changing new technology of the internet, will be highly beneficial as we build our business for the future, and we are looking forward to working with him."

Duncan is a non-executive director at entertainment retailer HMV and has been chairman of the Media Trust since 2006.