Channel 4 has signed former BBC Radio 1 executive Alex Donelly as head of music for its fledgling digital radio operations.

Donelly, currently senior vice-president of A&R at EMI music publishing, will work across all of 4 Radio's national digital radio stations, including E4 and Pure4, and will have overall responsibility for the music output of each station.

He will work closely with Channel 4 director of radio Bob Shennan, the former BBC Radio Five Live controller, on the launch of the first Channel 4-branded digital radio station, E4, due later this year.

This is Shennan's second senior executive appointment in a week, after hiring Five Live managing editor Michael Hill as 4 Radio's general manager.

Shennan said: "Alex is highly experienced and respected in the music industry. His kudos and standing will be a great asset to our radio business and I look forward to him joining the team."

Donelly was appointed Radio 1's head of music in 2000, having worked for the BBC since 1997. He quit to join EMI in 2005.

He said: "I'm sad to be leaving the world's best music publisher, but thrilled to be joining Channel 4, whom I regard as the UK's leading creative and innovative broadcaster.

"The opportunity to be part of the team building a new music radio platform is very exciting."

During his time at EMI, Donelly was responsible for signing new artists and developing existing ones, including Scouting For Girls and Justin Nozuka.

Announcing his appointment today, Channel 4 said Donelly broke artists including Eminem, Coldplay, The Streets, So Solid Crew and Basement Jaxx while he was at Radio 1.

As 4 Radio's general manager, Hill will be responsible for managing the creative development and launch of the three Channel 4 digital stations. He will also establish and oversee the group's commissioning system.

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