Channel 4 appoints Orpheus Warr as new chief technology officer

Warr now responsible for the broadcaster's overall technical strategy, architecture and research and development activity

Channel 4 has announced the appointment of Orpheus Warr (pictured) as its new chief technology officer.

Warr has been with Channel 4 since 2003 and prior to his promotion to CTO served as the channel's chief architect and head of technical strategy. He is now responsible for the broadcaster's overall technical strategy, architecture and research and development activity.

The broadcaster states that Warr has been at the centre of a number of firsts since joining the company, including the launch of on-demand service 4OD, Channel 4's use of cloud computing technology and the development of a data plan.

Thanks to the big data strategy initially set out by Warr, Channel 4 is now using big data to underpin viewer relationship management and advanced digital sales propositions.

"Channel 4 has a proud history of technical innovation, and I am very excited to be taking on this role at a time when there are so many new opportunities to lead the industry from the front," Warr said of his appointment, which begins immediately.

"From next-generation distribution and data analytics, to market defining viewer experiences, our appetite to use cutting-edge technologies to drive the business forward is as strong as ever."

Warr will report to Keith Underwood, Channel 4's director of strategy and technology, who welcomed his move to the role of CTO.

"Orf's promotion to CTO is richly deserved. He is an incredible talent who has a very strong track record in developing ground-breaking technical solutions that enable business transformation," he said.

"As CTO, Orf has a central role in Channel 4's ongoing programme of investment in innovation," Underwood added.

Warr will also work alongside Kevin Gallagher, the chief information officer at the broadcaster, who spoke at Computing's Big Data Summit 2014.

Channel 4 prides itself in using information technology in innovative ways and just recently, James Curran, senior project manager in the information systems department, told Computing why Channel 4 chose open-source MuleSoft over "prohibitively expensive" Oracle and Microsoft.