The Sunday Telegraph reports that he has scaled back his role at the US private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, where he is an adviser. This has lead to rumours that he may be interested in the top job at ITV. In 2006, there was speculation that Lord Hollick would lead a bid to buy ITV, backed by KKR.
Other names reported to be in the running for the job include Lord Carter, former head of Ofcom who is heading the government's Digital Britain report; Tony Ball and Michael Jackson, the former chief executives of BSkyB and Channel 4 respectively; and internal candidates John Cresswell, chief operating officer, and Rupert Howell, commercial chief.
The Sunday Times reported this weekend that the appointment could even come from outside the media industry and that the ITV board had asked headhunters to cast a wide net.
Grade is to take the role of non-executive chairman at ITV. He has said that the broadcaster, home of hits such as 'X Factor' and 'Harry Hill's TV Burp', should have a new chief executive to lead it after the conclusion of the review in to digital television and advertising contract rights.
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