AJ Dean is an experienced communications leader with a career spanning more than three decades in television, media, PR and stakeholder engagement. Currently serving as Stakeholder, Comms & Engagement Manager across ITV in the North, AJ plays a pivotal role in championing and raising ITV’s profile across the northern regions. Her remit also covers stakeholder management, corporate press, internal communications, charity partnerships, VIP visits and special projects.
At ITV, AJ has provided leadership to high-profile projects including project publicity and event management for Coronation Street’s 50th and 60th anniversaries, as well as Emmerdale’s landmark 50th birthday celebrations. She has also overseen complex change projects, including leading the communications and engagement around the relocation of ITV and Coronation Street to MediaCity, a milestone in the broadcaster’s history.
AJ’s career began at 18 when she joined the BBC in London. Over the following nine years, she progressed from secretary to producer within News and Current Affairs, working on major stories such as the Lockerbie disaster and the Gulf War. Her diverse roles spanned PA, researcher, technical manager and producer, giving her a strong editorial and production grounding.
A period in Sydney saw AJ diversify into marketing and PR, before returning to the UK to specialise in media and entertainment publicity. She went on to become Head of PR and Marketing at Cosgrove Hall Films, the iconic Manchester-based animation studio behind global hits such as Danger Mouse.
Since joining ITV in 2010, AJ has become a trusted figure both inside and outside the organisation, known for her ability to build meaningful stakeholder relationships, manage sensitive and complex communications, and deliver events that celebrate the cultural impact of ITV’s programmes. As a staunch advocate of diversity, equity and inclusion, AJ is an active supporter of ITV Pride and an ally to the LGBTQ+ community both inside ITV and beyond. She also provides mentorship and support to colleagues across the business, sharing her knowledge, experience and vast network of contacts with others as they develop within their own careers.
Born and raised in Bury, moving back to the North West was one of the best decisions AJ ever made. She not only came full circle to work back at ‘Granada,’ where her career began as a student, but also reconnected her with the love of her life, marrying ‘the boy from school’ after a 35-year gap.
AJ was commissioned as a Deputy Lieutenant in 2025