When Dawn Aireyran Channel 5, she famously described the channel’s core strengths as the three Fs: “films, football and fucking”. The comment by the veteran television executive, who has just been appointed chair of Arts Council England (Ace), set the tone for a career defined by boldness and commercial instinct. Airey will replace Nicholas Serota in August, with a fresh mandate to do more to support, nurture and protect the arts.