STV North boss Thompson to leave while Clements case hits high court
STV executive producer Derek Thompson, who oversaw STV North’s Aberdeen base, has decided to leave the company at the end of the year.
Bobby Hain, managing director for STV will now take over responsibility for STV North from Thompson, as well as STV’s central belt HQ.
The move has led some to question the role of the Aberdeen office and whether this will be turned into a northern news centre, no longer focusing on production.
With STV having just finalised its first round of voluntary redundancies it is thought that the move may see key staff members from STV North relocated to Glasgow.
A spokesperson for STV confirmed the news, saying: “I can confirm that Derek Thompson will be leaving the company at the end of the year and that Bobby Hain will assume the role of license holder of STV North. STV remains committed to production across Scotland and STV north will remain a key provider for the business.”
Already announced this week was the decision by the broadcaster to drop its Scottish Football League highlights agreement, thought to cost the broadcaster around £1m a year. The four year deal ends after this season, and will be replaced by a recently launched Sunday rugby programme.
Meanwhile, the dispute involving Alan Clements – who has been appointed head of content at STV – and his previous employer, RDF, has reached the High Court in London.
Clements claims that his contractual obligations to RDF were rendered null and void as he was constructively dismissed by the company. RDF dispute this and claim he needs to work a notice period meaning he could not join STV until the end of 2008.
The case has caused other controversies to surface. Police have been asked to investigate Clements and his wife, broadcaster Kirsty Wark, over an alleged incident of data fraud.
Rob Woodward, CEO of SMG has told The Drum that once the court case is settled, Clements will still join the company.