BBC Worldwide rejigs senior team to up focus on international markets

MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide incoming president, global markets Paul Dempsey has named his senior leadership team who will be responsible for running the businesses in Western Europe; Central and Eastern Europe; Middle East and Africa (Cema); Asia and Latin America.

The appointments, which officially start on 2 April, follow the reorganisation of BBC Worldwide to further increase its focus on international markets, enabling it to capture future growth opportunities around the world.

The reorganisation will see the business reconfigured from divisional to geographic lines of management. As a result, BBC Worldwide?s existing structure, primarily based around five global divisions, will cease to exist. Instead, P&L ownership and primary commercial accountability will move closer to its customers.

Each executive VP becomes responsible for the P&L; business development and delivering revenue and profit growth across all businesses in their region which will include channels; TV sales; consumer products and production.

Reporting into Dempsey, the new executive VPs are:

• David Weiland, who becomes executive VP for Western Europe. In addition, this role will be responsible for guiding and leading the development of commercial Sales strategy?s in order to maximise the value of BBC Worldwide IP, and grow BBC Worldwide revenue within Western Europe, CEMA, Asia and Latin America.
• Ian McDonough, who becomes executive VP for Central Europe, Middle East and Africa regions. In addition he has a global commercial remit for BBC Channels Strategy and will work closely with Liam Keelan, the new BBC Worldwide Editorial Director.
• Joyce Yeung, who becomes executive VP for Asia.
• Fred Medina, who becomes executive VP for Latin America.

Dempsey said, ?We?ve got big plans to build the fan base for BBC brands all around the world. These senior level appointments are a sign of our ambition. With Fred, David, Ian and Joyce leading the charge, I?m sure we?ll enjoy much success in taking the ?Worldwide? in our company name to new heights.