Five recruits Flextech's Opie as MD

Five has announced today that director of programmes Dan Chambers is to leave the company by mutual agreement, with Flextech's managing director, Lisa Opie, being appointed as managing director of content for Five.

Opie has been managing director of Flextech since April 2003, having previously been director of programming, and then executive vice president of Flextech Channels since 1999.

Opie said: “I am delighted to be joining Five during this most exciting period in its history. Five has fantastic content and a unique position in the market. I’m looking forward to working with the team to build a distinctive digital portfolio.”

As managing director of Flextech she was responsible for the creative and commercial management of the channels Living TV; Living TV2; Bravo; Trouble; Challenge and Ftn. She was also a director on the board of UKTV and managing director of Minotaur International – Flextech’s distribution arm.

Five’s chief executive, Jane Lighting, said: “Dan has done a good job at Five and has been a wonderful colleague; however we now need a creative director with the skills and expertise to run a portfolio of channels.

“I worked with Lisa during my time at Flextech and I know that she has the expertise and ability to take Five into the next phase of its digital strategy and to develop our content strategy across all platforms.”

Opie’s start date at Five is yet to be decided.