LANGSDALE APPOINTED HEAD OF BBC TECHNOLOGY

PHILIP Langsdale, currently Director of BBC Distribution and Technology has been appointed Chief Executive of recently approved subsidiary company BBC Technology Limited.
Langsdale’s decision to focus on the development of the new commercial development means he will relinquish his position on the BBC’s executive committee. In light of this and the decision by Margaret Salmon, Chief Executive of Resources to retire, the BBC will be making one more structural change, creating a new role of Business Commercial Director.
BBC Director-General, Greg Dyke, said: “Philip Langsdale has done a great job as Director of Distribution and Technology, but he now wants to concentrate on building up the BBC Technology Ltd – and we agree with that.”
The newly created position of Commercial Director will be a member of the BBC’s Executive Committee and is currently being advertised. Greg Dyke said: “The Commercial Director will take overall responsibility for the BBC’s existing ‘business to business’ operations (BBC Resources Ltd and BBC Technology Ltd) – as well as developing new business opportunities.”
Responsibility for the areas of Distribution and Technology, which will not form part of Technology Ltd., will move to other BBC divisions.
The Distribution function will become the responsibility of Carolyn Fairbairn, BBC Director of Strategy. The division will be re-titled BBC Strategy and Distribution.
The remaining key parts of the current BBC Distribution and Technology – Research and Development, IT Security and the Technology internal buying function – will be led by David King, the BBC’s Chief Technology Officer who will report to Ashley Highfield, Director of New Media. The New Media division will be re-titled New Media and Technology and the two parts will be run separately. (AMcE)