Freesat has appointed ITV executive Paul Gilshan as marketing and communications director.
Currently director of commercial marketing and research at ITV Gilshan will join the satellite TV service this spring, reporting to managing director Emma Scott.
His responsibilities will include leading the team that manages retail sales, brand, customer service, online and marketing communications. Gilshan has been at ITV for just over a year and prior to that was head of marketing for The Times for two years, during which time he delivered new subscription packages.
Before he was at News International he spent over four years as head of marketing for BskyB where he relaunched Sky Movies.
Gilshan will replace Will Abbott, who left Freesat in December to become UK director for insurer Hiscox.
Emma Scott said Gilshan will be “instrumental” in shaping and driving the next phase of Freesat’s growth.
“Paul stood out during the recruitment process as an outstanding marketer, who takes a strategic approach; his experiences have been focused on attracting and retaining customers and he has an obvious passion for all things TV. Paul has had a fascinating career to date, balancing the competing commercial and creative requirements of media and broadcasters, as well as a strong agency background,” she said.