Six non-executive directors from Carlton Communications and Granada are expected to meet today to discuss how to continue with the £4.5bn merger. Green was ousted as chairman designate of the enlarged ITV last month after shareholder pressure.
The appointment of Sir Brian, former chairman and chief executive of Lloyds TSB, is supported by both companies, and will give them more time to find a permanent non-executive chairman.
Giving the interim job to Carlton director Sir Brian will also ease investor and employee concerns that the merger is starting to look more like a takeover by Granada, as there are no Carlton executives on ITV's board of directors.
Also on the agenda today is the appointment of a nominations committee of directors to commission head-hunters to find a new chairman. They are likely to approve the appointment of Spencer Stuart, the firm that recently handled the controversial search for BSkyB's chief executive.
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