Former Reuters head of legal Andrew Garard has scooped the top legal job at ITV, replacing outgoing legal director Kyla Mullins.

Garard, a partner at the City arm of US law firm LeBoeuf Lamb Greene & McRae, is to take up the role later this autumn, reporting to ITV chief operating officer and finance director John Cresswell.

Garard joined LeBoeuf last year from telecoms company Cable &Wireless, where he had been general counsel and company secretary since he left Reuters in 2003.

Commenting on the appointment, Cresswell said: "We are delighted to have someone of Andrew's calibre joining ITV at this critical time. With a background in both the media and telecommunications industries, Andrew is very well placed to offer ITV expert advice and counsel on the widest range of issues affecting our sector."

The news comes after Mullins, who joined ITV from Granada in 2003, announced earlier this year that she would be stepping down from the role of legal director.