Channel 5 hires MTV marketing director

Richard Desmond's Channel 5 has appointed MTV executive Zoe Harris to the newly-created position of controller of marketing.

In her new role, Harris will be responsible for all on and off-air marketing, as well as consumer PR and the broadcaster's creative teams.

She will be tasked with broadening Channel 5's appeal to drive up its audience share against ITV, Channel 4 and the BBC, reports Marketing Week.

Harris will also work to utilise other assets in Desmond's Northern & Shell group, including the Express newspapers and celebrity magazines such as OK!, to run cross-promotions of new Channel 5 shows.

Harris, who has been marketing director at MTV since 2009, will start the new role on March 21, reporting to Northern & Shell group managing director Stan Myerson.

In a statement, Myerson said: "I’m delighted Zoe is set to join us at Channel 5. With her top-flight marketing background, having worked on some of the UK's biggest brands, her creativity and her energy, Zoe will be a huge asset to the broadcaster as we look to broaden our appeal and make full use of the cross media opportunities available in the Northern & Shell portfolio."

The appointment comes after Channel 5 relaunched under new branding and a revamped schedule, including magazine show OK! TV, presented by Kate Walsh and Matt Johnson.