HTV WEST’S DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMES TO RETIRE

HTV West Director of Programmes Sandra Jones is to step down next year after more than 30 years in broadcasting, the last 20 with the West of England ITV licence company.
She will be succeeded by Jane McCloskey who will add commissioning responsibility for HTV West's programmes to her current role as Director of Programmes for Carlton West Country. She'll work alongside Jones until her retirement next year.
Jones began her career with Granada Television in the sixties, working on some of the early episodes of such television institutions as ‘Coronation Street’, as well as network drama, current affairs and documentaries. She joined HTV 20 years ago, and produced a wide range of programmes before being promoted to her present position in September 1997.
Jones said: " The whole of my television career has been magic, but never more challenging and rewarding than during my last few years at HTV. I shall miss everyone here, but am delighted to hand over to Jane who brings a wealth of experience in TV production to this job."
McCloskey began her television career with HTV in 1982. She wrote a script for HTV's then head of drama, Peter Graham Scott, for his highly successful network children's drama series ‘Into the Labyrinth’, and had the satisfaction of watching it being recorded - at the tender age of just 17.
Nine years ago she went to work for GMTV as Head of Features, then in September 1996 was appointed Director of Programmes at Carlton West Country.
McCloskey has an impressive network programme track record for the BBC, GMTV, as well as ITV, with her 'Christmas with the Royal Navy' special picking up an RTS award.
In her new role as Director of Programmes for HTV West and West Country she will be responsible for further enhancing and developing regional programming across the South West of England.
The new appointment will forge a strong link across the two ITC regions harnessing the local talent base and providing a solid foundation of regional programmes on which to grow network production.
A new Head of Features is also to be appointed to HTV West to help manage the regional schedule working alongside the new Director of Programmes.
McCloskey will report jointly to Carlton West Country Managing Director Mark Haskell and HTV Managing Director Jeremy Payne. (CD)