Steven Andrew leaves ITV

Steven Andrew is leaving his position as programme director of ITV's digital channels in order to return to production. [ALL]

Steven Andrew is leaving his position as programme director of ITV's digital channels in order to return to production.

Andrew's departure has been mooted for some time following a restructure of the commissioning system that gives genre directors, including Paul Jackson, Alsion Sharman and Laura Mackie, commissioning control for all ITV channels.

Andrew joined the network in February 2003 as controller of children's and youth programming. He moved on to before become controller of off-peak, launching The Jeremy Kyle Showand Paul O'Grady's ITV1 teatime strand. He took up his current role in February 2006 and has overseen all programming output across ITV's family of channels.

ITV's director of programmes Simon Shaps said: 'Steven has done an excellent job across ITV's growing portfolio of digital channels and leaves them in excellent shape for the future.

'His experience in children's television got the CITV channel off to a flying start and his commissioning experience has been invaluable in overseeing the transition of the digital channels as they have taken on more original commissions over the last 18 months.'

Andrew said: 'The great challenge in my latest role was to develop original commissions and strong brand identities to put ITV's digital channels on the map. Having achieved all we set out to do last year I am looking forward to going back into production.'

In recent months there has been a steady flow of exits from ITV. Steve Arnell, the executive charged with developing ITV's new digital channels and general commissioner for ITV2, ITV3, ITV4 has left. While the channels' deputy commissioner, Joe Talbot, and ITV's director of digital channels Jonathan Lewis have also gone.