Broadcasting giant ITV has shaken up its in-house legal team and appointed a new head of compliance following the news that long-serving department head Ian McBride is to retire.

McBride, a former journalist and producer of documentary series World in Action, will step down as director of compliance team in the summer. He has spent 30 years with Granada and ITV, becoming head of compliance in 2000.

Head of legal Andy Griffiths steps up to become group director of legal and regulatory compliance in a newly-created role.

Griffiths, who joined ITV's in-house legal team eight years ago and is a former media lawyer with City giant Lovells, will oversee compliance across ITV's entire portfolio of channels, reporting to high-profile group legal director Andrew Garard.

Commenting on the shake-up, Garard said: "Andy already knows ITV inside-out and will be a tremendous asset in leading the compliance team."

Garard, a former head of legal at Reuters, took on the top legal job at ITV last September, leaving private practice after a stint at the City arm of US outfit LeBoeuf Lamb Greene & McRae.

ITV has links with City firms including Lovells, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Olswang.