BBC appoints Daytime Commissioning Editor for 'outside London'

The BBC has announced the appointment to the new post of Daytime Out of London Commissioning Editor.
Karen Brown, who is currently on secondment to the BBC's culture change programme Making It Happen, will work closely with the Controller and the Daytime team to develop shared editorial strategies for Factual and Entertainment programming within Daytime. She will be based in Birmingham and report to the Controller of Daytime.
Key to the role will be the development of relationships with programme suppliers – both in house and independents - across the Nations and Regions.
The BBC view the appointment as part of the radical overhaul of the BBC's commissioning system being implemented by Jana Bennett, Director of Television, which will see a flatter and more meritocratic system with a greater emphasis on commissioning output from outside London. The changes will pave the way for the operation of the proposed new window of creative competition.
Alison Sharman, outgoing Controller of Daytime, said: "BBC Daytime has a strong heritage of making programmes in the regions and this new role will ensure more collaborative partnerships with regional suppliers which is vital in order for Daytime to continue making a diverse range of quality programming.
"Karen will bring real enthusiasm and energy to the role along with a wide programming background, and I am delighted to have her as part of the Daytime team."
Commenting on her appointment Brown said: "I am a huge fan of Daytime and am very excited to be joining the team.
"In the past three years BBC Daytime has taken a remarkable journey and is now firmly established as the market leader. Its programmes continue to push the creative bar and provide intelligent, surprising variety for the viewers.
"I have spent seven years working in the regions and am looking forward to building relationships with indies throughout the UK to encourage them to bring their best ideas to the BBC."
Brown has series produced a range of factual and factual entertainment programmes across a wide range of formats for BBC ONE and BBC TWO, from 'Watchdog Healthcheck' to 'Holiday'.
For the past two years she has have been the Executive Producer of The Teaching Awards and previously spent two years as Commissioning Editor of Strands at 'This Morning', commissioning from a wide variety of independent producers from across the UK.
She will take up her post on 15 June 2005.
(SP)