The privatisation of Channel 4 appeared a step closer yesterday when the broadcaster appointed a chairman with a track record of company flotations and disposals. Charles Gurassa, the deputy chairman of easyJet, sold Thomson Travel to TUI when he was chief executive of the travel group. He also led the float of Virgin Mobile which Sir Richard Branson later sold to NTL, now Virgin Media. He moved to chair Lovefilm, the DVD hire business, which was eventually was sold to Amazon.