BDB appoints two new chiefs prior to launch

British Digital Broadcasting, the digital terrestrial pay TV venture jointly owned by Carlton and Granada, has made two senior commercial appointments prior to its autumn launch.

Gabrielle Simcocks, marketing director at The Disney Channel, is joining with responsibilities for customer relations, including direct marketing. But BDB refuses to comment on Simcocks’ position.

The company has also appointed a director of sales, Doug Goodwin, who joins from Sony Computer Entertainment. At Sony he was one of the management team behind the launch of Sony PlayStation in 1995.

To date, 2.3 million PlayStation units have been sold in the UK and 23 million worldwide. The brand dominates rivals Nintendo and Sega.

Anthony Sethill, BDB commercial director, says: “Doug has a perfect pedigree in terms of sales management and directing the sales division for a product launch against very established brand competition.”

Goodwin will be responsible for subscription sales through retail outlets, overseeing merchandising, display and promotions, and ensuring retail staff are trained to explain BDB’s services to consumers.

He will report to Sethill, who says BDB will have a commercial team of about 40 people by the time it launches, in the final quarter of the year.