Kelly Williams leaves Channel 5 after 14 years

Channel 5's sales director Kelly Williams, one of only two senior executives to survive Richard Desmond's cull following his acquisition of the broadcaster in the summer, is to leave after 14 years. Williams, who has headed the TV sales operation at Channel 5 for the last seven years, is to be replaced by former Viacom UK TV sales chief Nick Bampton. Bampton left Viacom, the US media giant that owns channels including Nickelodeon and MTV, after BSkyB took over TV ad sales for the company's UK portfolio of channels last year. He will join Channel 5 on 1 December in the role of commercial sales director while Williams, who is currently in the midst of striking the TV ad sales deals with media agencies for 2011, will leave at the end of January. Northern & Shell maintain that Williams's departure is not part of Channel 5's cost-cutting drive. "After 14 years' service, we fully understand his decision to move on but with Nick and Kelly working closely together for two months, we can ensure a smooth transition," said Stan Myerson, group managing director at Northern & Shell. Williams's departure leaves Jeff Ford, who was promoted to director of programmes following Desmond's management cull in August, as the sole senior executive remaining out of the team inherited from previous owner RTL. • To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email [email protected] or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. • If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".