Deborah Turness returns to ITN as CEO

Deborah Turness will be rejoining ITN as its Chief Executive Officer from NBC News International.

Deborah became the first president of NBC News International in 2017 and is responsible for overseeing its operations including editorial, production and commercial.

She joined NBC News in 2013, becoming the first woman in US history to be President of a network news division, where she led a team of over 3000 journalists and technicians.

Prior to joining NBC News, Deborah was editor of ITV News where she was the UK’s first female editor of a network news operation and the youngest ever editor of ITV News.

Deborah first joined ITN as a freelancer while on a post-graduate journalism course in France in her early twenties. Over the following years, she worked across the foreign, home and planning desks before joining the North of England bureau.

Deborah was ITN’s Washington Bureau producer during the Clinton White House years and spent time in Bosnia during the Balkans War. In 1997, she played a key role in launching 5 News before moving to Channel 4 as editor of its breakfast programme, RI:SE.

She was appointed as ITV News deputy editor in 2002 and then made editor in 2004.

Deborah replaces Anna Mallett who joined as CEO in 2019 from BBC Studios, and is now set to join Netflix.

“ITN was my home for most of my career, so I feel privileged and proud to be returning as CEO,” said Deborah.

“ITN’s role in public life has never been more critical, with the pandemic demonstrating why its reputation for quality, trusted news content is second to none.

“I’m excited to capture the growth in streaming platforms who are hungry for ITN’s high-quality factual content, as well as creative expertise across sports, virtual events and advertising.

“At a moment of so much change, challenge and opportunity, I look forward to leading a brand I believe in, and a talented team of people, whose values are so dear to my heart.”

Deborah’s start date is April 19. Anna Mallett will leave ITN to join Netflix on April 16.