EXCLUSIVE: The pinnacle of HR at ITN is to exit not lengthy after the publication of a report into ITN’s controversial use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).
Alexandra Standfast, who was Chief Individuals Officer on the ITV and Channel 4 newsmaker and ran what is known as the Individuals Crew, had her exit introduced final month. In a word to workers, ITN CEO Rachel Corp stated Standfast had “determined to step down from her function at ITN and is leaving to pursue different alternatives that permit her to spend extra time together with her household in Wales.”
Corp stated Standfast had “developed and spearheaded an formidable Individuals Technique for ITN” throughout her five-year tenure at ITN’s Grays Inn Street HQ in London, “championing cultural change and introducing a spread of progressive insurance policies.” We’re informed ITN is presently recruiting for Standfast’s substitute. We’ve got reached to her for remark. She has been within the ITN HR workforce for the previous 5 years and it’s her second stint with the outfit.
Standfast’s substitute should slowly become familiar with a variety of suggestions from the evaluate into NDAs and inside complaints, which we’re informed ITN is presently working via.
The report from lawyer Simmons & Simmons, which has not been made public, was reported by The Guardian to have urged ITN to evaluate its use of NDAs and enhance whistleblowing processes after considerations have been raised that NDAs have been getting used to cowl up gender pay discrimination, harassment and bullying.
In a leaked recording obtained by Deadline from an ITN city corridor in October 2024 simply after Simmons & Simmons had reported again, the particular problem of excessive turnover within the Individuals Crew was raised. Lead Channel 4 anchor Krishnan Guru-Murthy could be heard saying the report “highlights fairly a serious failure within the Individuals Crew.”
In the course of the city corridor, Corp was questioned by one ITN worker who claimed that greater than 30 individuals had left the Individuals Crew previously 5 years “and plenty of extra earlier than that.” “What’s being achieved about this to make sure ladies are capable of keep on this workforce and assist the enterprise successfully?,” the worker requested. “Why are ladies leaving at such a excessive price and infrequently with no jobs to go to?”
Corp responded through the city corridor by acknowledging the excessive turnover however saying “we now have a very robust workforce in place.” She flagged the “strain” the Individuals Crew had been underneath, which she stated was highlighted within the evaluate, and pressured a number of occasions that the findings from the evaluate have been throughout the board and never simply targeting HR.
The leaked recording additionally contained broader criticism of ITN administration from a number of high-profile journalists together with Guru-Murthy and ITV Information anchor Rohit Kachroo, which was reported on the time by The Guardian and Monetary Instances.
Guru-Murthy stated: “If we [ITN journalists] have been masking this we’d say, this report, I’m stunned there have been no resignations or firings.”
Kachroo could be heard criticizing the “cycle” of ITN opinions that happen as soon as each few years. “Points are left to languish and the individuals who raised considerations are left to languish,” he stated.
An ITN spokeswoman stated final October: “We totally settle for the findings of this impartial evaluate into our dealing with of complaints which discovered that at occasions our administration processes fell brief, and for this we apologise. We’re dedicated to a tradition of openness and belief and can implement the evaluate’s suggestions to make it possible for any time a priority is raised, it’s addressed promptly, completely, and pretty.”
