BBC Global News makes senior appointments in management shake-up

BBC Global News has made a series of senior appointments to new roles created as part of a management shake-up by the broadcaster.

In March, director of BBC Global News Peter Horrocks announced the closure of nine senior management posts as part of changes to the division, which will create a saving of £600,000. The standalone post of director of BBC World Service and the positions of BBC Global News' controller Future Media, Technology & Distribution and head of governance and public affairs will be closed.

The two roles of director of BBC World News and director BBC World Service English will also close as part of the restructure, while the three roles of director digital content BBC World News, commercial director BBC World News and controller strategy business and development for BBC Global News will also be cut.

Four new roles have been some of these responsibilities will be created within Global News, which is responsible for the BBC's World Service output, making a net loss of five jobs.

Liliane Landor has been appointed to the new Global News post of controller of languages. Landor will continue as head of the division's Middle East region and has previously been head of World Service News and Current Affairs for the broadcaster.

Craig Oliver has been named as controller of English for Global New. Oliver is editor of the BBC's general election results TV programme and deputy head of the BBC's multimedia newsroom. He was previously editor of BBC News at Six and News at Ten.

Current director of digital content for World News James Montgomery will make the move to the new role of controller of digital and technology for Global News.

The final post announced in March of business director for Global News, has not yet been appointed.

"Since my announcements in mid March, the BBC Global Strategy Review has gathered pace. It is now clear that there is a potential impact on how our commercial news operation is run. Therefore I have decided to hold off appointing the role of Global News Business Director and Managing Director for BBC World News," Peter Horrocks in a memo to staff.

Existing chief operating officer Richard Thomas will lead projects examining the costs of World Service operations.

"Once the new senior team is in place they will be focused on developing the plans that will allow us to the meet the challenges ahead.  Specifically, developing our editorial strategy that will allow us to become more global; how we move forward with World Service Choices given the pressures on public finance; and how we develop our commercial business further," said Horrocks.

Next week: read Journalism.co.uk's interview with Horrocks on future plans for BBC Global News.

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