ITV has appointed easyJet group general counsel (GC) Kyla Mullins as its new head of legal, filling a role vacated by the experienced Andrew Garard in July.
Mullins returns to ITV having previously been its group legal director between 2000 and 2007. She also had spells as GC at EMI Music and energy company Mitie before joining budget airliner easyJet in 2015.
ITV’s chief executive Carolyn McCall commented: ‘Kyla brings great commercial and strategic experience and acumen as well as a proven track record in the media and entertainment sectors. I am sure she will be a great addition to the management board and a fantastic leader for her team.’
Mullins’ arrival fills a crucial gap in ITV’s in-house legal team after the departure of former GC Garard in the summer. He joined ITV as GC in 2007 and continued to provide assistance to ITV after his departure, including helping the company find his replacement.
Garard oversaw a key ITV panel review in May 2015, which sought to extend its eight-firm roster by up to four more. Historically, firms including DLA Piper, Hogan Lovells and Reed Smith have advised ITV.
Mullins is replaced at easyJet in an interim capacity by Clifford Chance (CC) partner Daud Khan. Khan was only promoted to the Magic Circle firm’s partnership in May this year and was based in CC’s London office, focusing on corporate and M&A.
Khan’s highlight matters at CC include advising BBVA’s investment in Atom Bank’s £149m capital raising and Chinese conglomerate Fosun on an investment in travel agent Thomas Cook.
In December 2015, easyJet lost its then-head of legal and compliance, Andrew Winterton, to taxi app company Karhoo. Winterton had been in his position for nearly a decade after joining from Virgin Atlantic Airways. The former Clyde & Co lawyer was succeeded in his position by Rebecca Mills.