Channel 4’s former interim head of creative diversity Naomi Sesay has returned to the broadcaster after two years away to take on the roll full-time.
Sesay, a former senior exec at the Media Trust and one of the first producers of C4’s Big Brother, joins this month with a brief to lead all internal diversity initiatives, training and mentoring and partnerships with third parties in the creative industries.
She replaces Babita Behal, who stood down in September to join Fremantle in a similar role.
She was previously at C4 for almost two years, during which time she was also the broadcaster’s on-screen diversity director.
C4 commercial director Emma Hardy said Sesay brings “a newfound wealth of experience” through her consultancy, training and keynote speeches across various industries.
Hardy added: “I look forward to working with her and my commissioning colleagues to ensure that C4 continues to reflect and represent our audience’s diverse voices and thinking in everything that we do.”
Sesay originally joined C4 from the Media Trust, where she was head of youth media engagement for four years before a brief tenure as head of innovation and diversity.
She is also the founder of the Billionaire Ladies Club, a network for female entrepreneurs.
C4 chief content officer Ian Katz said Sesay is “a highly effecrtive and passionate advocate for better representation, both in front of and behind the camera”, who would help the broadcaster to build on the legacy of last year’s Black To Front initiative.
