Townsend resigns as BSkyB head

BSkyB marketing director for digital services Chris Townsend has left a month after being called in to oversee the launch of digital services on June 28.

Townsend departed late last week and is expected to take up a new marketing position in May with an entertainment company.

Last month, Townsend was recalled to Sky from digital home shopping service British Interactive Broadcasting (BIB), where he was commercial director, to ensure that Sky’s digital service launched on time (MW March 12).

Sky insiders say there was a disagreement between chief executive Mark Booth and Townsend over the communications strategy for the digital service.

Townsend confirmed he had left the company but would make no further comment except to say the spilt was “amicable”.

Townsend was promoted to marketing director for digital services in 1995.