Exec to steer unit spanning recently merged docs and fact-ent, reality and ents, and specialist factual departments

Channel 4’s head of docs and factual entertainment Alisa Pomeroy will lead the broadcaster’s newly merged unscripted team.

Pomeroy will steer a division that has been created by merging the factual, specialist factual and entertainment departments. Steve Handley, who is leaving C4, previously ran the entertainment team, while Shaminder Nahal is in charge of specialist factual.

The number of comm eds in the new unscripted division is not yet known. It was revealed last month that 50% of the commissioning team’s roles were at risk as part of C4’s major restructure, which involved cutting 340 jobs – the biggest round of layoffs in the broadcaster’s 43-year history.

Pomeroy will report to incoming director of programmes David Brindley and will assume her new position in January. Alongside Brindley and her commissioning team, she will shape the PSB’s unscripted editorial vision and commissioning strategy.

As head of docs and fact-ent, she has overseen some of C4’s biggest successes in recent years, including documentary titles To Catch a Copper, The Push: Murder on the Cliff and Jade: The Reality Star Who Changed Britain; factual dramas Partygate and Dirty Business and factual-entertainment launches Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing, Secret Genius and Snackmasters.

Under her new remit, she will be responsible for some of C4’s biggest legacy hits, including 24 Hours in Police Custody, Educating Yorkshire, Taskmaster, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Gogglebox and The Great British Bake Off.

Emma Hardy, head of commissioning operations at C4, said: “Alisa has been a fantastic colleague, creative and leader at Channel 4 for the past 11 years. We’re so looking forward to the next chapter in her expanded new role.”

Pomeroy said: “Over the past 11 years, I’ve had the privilege of working on some of the Channel’s biggest shows alongside outstanding creatives.

“This expanded unscripted remit is an exciting opportunity to build on that experience, bring fresh ambition to our programming and champion bold, original ideas. I’m looking forward to working with our teams and creative partners to shape what comes next.”

Besides the unscripted team, C4 is also merging its drama and comedy teams into one scripted unit, the head of which is yet to be appointed. At the same time as the announcement of Handley’s departure, head of comedy Charlie Perkins was revealed to be stepping down later this year.