Zaffrin O’Sullivan joins ITN as General Counsel

ITN has confirmed that Zaffrin O’Sullivan has been appointed as its new General Counsel.

Zaffrin joins from Virgin Media O2 where she is Legal Director. She will take over at ITN from James Scorer, who is retiring after 27 years with the company.

Zaffrin O’Sullivan:

“I am thrilled to be joining ITN as General Counsel. ITN’s reputation for high standards of journalistic integrity, and commitment to delivering authentic, human-led stories, resonates deeply with me. I look forward to helping deliver ITN’s ambitious strategy for growth, and contributing positively to DE&I, wellbeing and culture.”

In this key strategic role, Zaffrin will work closely with ITN’s chief executive Rachel Corp and will take up a position on the company’s Senior Leadership Team, providing expert legal advice and taking a leading role in negotiating the largest and most complex commercial contracts.

As General Counsel, Zaffrin will lead ITN’s legal department and will have ultimate responsibility for all legal matters across the business, including contracts, property and regulatory law. Zaffrin will also have final responsibility for the legal compliance of ITN’s broadcast output, which will continue to be managed by ITN’s compliance team, led by John Battle KC (Hon).

Zaffrin is a highly-experienced media and entertainment lawyer, and has worked with many leading producers, broadcasters, distributors and platforms. She currently leads the TV & Entertainment legal team at Virgin Media O2, one of the UK’s largest telecoms and media providers. Before that, Zaffrin held senior legal roles at media organisations including BBC Studios, UKTV and Endemol, among others.

Rachel Corp, CEO:

“Zaffrin will bring energy, expertise and strong business acumen into our leadership team. Her experience in driving sustained commercial success and her dedication to inclusive leadership makes her a great fit for ITN, and we’re really excited to welcome her to the company. We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to James Scorer, whose unwavering passion and dedication have played a pivotal role in ITN’s triumphs over the last three decades. We wish him all the very best for his retirement.”

Zaffrin will join ITN in February.