Michael Grade scouting for talent

ITV's executive chairman, Michael Grade has said he is on the look out for talent to revive ITV1's fortunes, for both on and off screen.

Speaking at the company's AGM, Grade said he was "personally pursuing" new talent for management and programming roles. He added that boosting the main channel and tackling the contract rights renewal issue - which reduces the amount advertisers have to commit if ITV's audience shrinks – were his main priorities.

Grade admitted that there had been some failures in programming on ITV1, but showed support for television director Simon Shaps, dismissing rumours that Shaps may follow ITV marketing director Clare Salmon and commercial director Ian McCulloch in exiting the company.

Grade said: "Simon commands a great deal of respect in the industry and people know he has my complete backing," adding that Shaps' impact on the network will become more evident by the end of 2008.

The executive chairman would not comment on reports linking Dawn Airey, the former managing director of channels at BSkyB and chief executive of ill-fated Iostar, with a new role at ITV overseeing production.