Alex Mahon, the current chief executive of Channel 4, is set to take the helm at Superstruct Entertainment, the live events group renowned for organizing the Boardmasters festival in Cornwall and Field Day in London.

Starting in the autumn, Mahon will replace Roderik Schlösser, one of Superstruct’s founders, who will transition to a non-executive director position on the board.

Superstruct, supported by private equity firms KKR and CVC Capital, manages a portfolio of 80 festivals across Europe and Australia, including notable events like Kendal Calling in the Lake District and Sonar in Barcelona.

At 51 years old, Mahon formally announced her departure from Channel 4 on Monday, following Sir Ian Cheshire, the chairman, as the organization searches for a new leader to succeed him. Ofcom, the regulatory authority for communications in the UK, is actively seeking a replacement.

Franziska Kayser, who heads the technology, media, and telecommunications sector at KKR, praised Mahon’s extensive experience and creative vision, stating that she is well-equipped to steer the company into its new phase of growth and innovation. Kayser expressed excitement about collaborating with Mahon to bolster Superstruct’s success.

During Mahon’s tenure at Channel 4, the organization faced government proposals to privatize the publicly owned, advertiser-funded broadcaster, which reported a significant deficit of £52 million in 2023 despite generating £1 billion in revenue for the third consecutive year.

In her farewell note to the staff, Mahon emphasized how Channel 4 has significantly influenced national discourse.

Earning nearly £1 million last year, Mahon played a critical role in guiding the broadcaster through challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent decline in advertising revenue, which exerted pressure on investments in programming and affected independent production firms.

Ahmed expressed her admiration for Superstruct’s energetic and creative ethos, describing it as a unique entity that is high-growth, spans multiple territories, and is led by founders who excel in creating memorable live experiences.

Her new role at Superstruct was initially reported by Sky News.