The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
ITV Sport technical chief dies at World Cup
ITV Sport’s technical director has died while heading the channel’s World Cup coverage in Qatar, the channel has said.
The death of Roger Pearce, who has been part of ITV’S major sports event team since the 1988 Olympics, was announced on air by sports presenter Mark Pougatch.
He said: “We have some very sad news to bring you from here in Qatar.
“Our technical director, Roger Pearce, who was here embarking on his eighth World Cup, has sadly passed away.
“Roger and his team are the brilliant people who bring you the pictures into your homes and make it all happen.
“Roger was a hugely respected figure in the TV sport broadcasting industry. For ITV he has been instrumental in the logistical planning and delivery of Rugby World Cups as well as the football World Cups as well as the Euros.
“He was utterly dedicated, professional, charming and hugely popular.
“He will be missed by so many people inside the industry and at home.”
Friend Neil Stainsby, a TV studio director, posted on Twitter that Mr Pearce had been set to retire in five weeks’ time.
He wrote: “So sad to hear of the passing of my friend and former colleague at ITV Meridian, Roger Pearce.
“He died on his last assignment in Qatar before retirement in five weeks’ time.”
Mr Pearce, a former technical operations manager at ITV News Meridian for many years, had visited the newsroom in Whiteley just two weeks ago.
ITV Meridian’s head of news, Alison Nice, said: “Roger was loved and respected by all who worked with him. The sad news of his death has come as a terrible shock to everyone.”
Lisa Nichols, ITV Meridian’s operations manager, said: “Roger was an excellent engineer who would always find new ways to overcome technical problems.
“His vast experience made him a brilliant manager and a fantastic mentor to many of us too.
“He was simply a one-off and as a much loved friend and colleague. He will be so missed by us all.”
In a statement, Mark Demuth, ITV controller of sport, said: “Roger was the person who made it all happen – whether he was on-site at a minor nonleague ground or working across a complex technical operation such as this World Cup.
“Everyone is feeling numb at the moment and sharing a dreadful sense of loss.”
Mr Pearce started his career as an engineer at Grampian TV and worked in other ITV regions before joining ITV network sport in 2001 and becoming its technical director in 2008.