MUMBAI: Former Financial Times CTO and CIO Michael Fleshman has taken up a new role within BBC Worldwide’s Consumer Digital business, overseen by MD and EVP of Digital, Daniel Heaf.
Fleshman is tasked with developing the technology needed to drive a further step change in BBC Worldwide’s digital revenue. He’ll take responsibility for the technology delivering all BBC Worldwide’s commercial digital businesses including Global iPlayer, TopGear.com and BBCShop.com.
His appointment further indicates BBC Worldwide’s commitment to becoming a leader within the digital sphere and building its reputation and presence within international markets.
Fleshman is based in the UK and will work with teams in the UK, New York, Singapore and Oakland, who together will execute BBC Worldwide’s Consumer Digital strategy to delivery digital experiences to all consumers across multiple devices and across multiple brands
Heaf said, �Our digital business is growing fast and now represents 12.8 per cent of revenue to the business, up from 8.1 per cent during 2010/2011. While this is a fantastic achievement, we recognise there is much more to do. Michael is a highly respected and experienced technology professional with success in building global digital businesses at scale. I’m delighted to have him on board to support our
ambitions.�
Fleshman said, �I have always had a great respect for the BBC Worldwide brand and am a great believer in its potential in the digital space. I am extremely excited that they have allowed me to play a part in building the business at this pivotal time for digital and look forward to working with Daniel and the team to execute our strategy.�
Fleshman joins BBC Worldwide with over 20 years of experience in technology and product development across media, publishing and telecommunications. Prior to his appointment, Fleshman was CTO and CIO for the Financial Times, responsible for the technology strategy, architecture, development, and programme and portfolio management. He also oversaw technology operations and corporate IT systems for online, print and corporate technology functions, and had started work on unifying the historically separate �IT’ and �online’ functions at the FT. Fleshman also held similar roles at Nickelodeon Online/MTV Networks and AOL France.
