BBC taps new audio and music head
Former marketing exec is surprise appointment
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Tim Davie, a Cambridge graduate who once worked for Pepsi in the U.S., is to become director of BBC Audio & Music.
In his new role, Davie will oversee more than half a dozen radio networks, including Blighty’s most popular station Radio 2, and music entertainment across four TV stations.
He succeeds the hugely respected and feisty Jenny Abramsky, who in a remarkable BBC career spanning 39 years has helped propel BBC Radio to a dominant position and left U.K. privately owned stations struggling to catch up.
By contrast, Davie joined the BBC a mere three years ago, but come September he will find himself responsible for some of the most successful radio stations in the world.
Previously he was vice prexy of marketing at PepsiCo Europe. Given the speed of his ascent at the BBC, Davie may have his eye on even bigger prizes, especially since in an on-demand digital media world, marketing skills are regarded as being of prime importance.
His rapid promotion and the fact that Davie has no experience in program making have been greeted with some skepticism inside the BBC, but director-general Mark Thompson praised his abilities.
In a statement Thompson said: "Radio is at the heart of the BBC's public service mission and millions of listeners rely on its quality, range and integrity every day.
"Tim's drive, knowledge and sheer love of the medium will ensure that BBC radio remains creatively strong and vibrant in the years to come.
"His insight into audiences and their expectations of the BBC will be particularly valuable.”
