BBC Radio picks senior marketer

The marketer behind the relaunch of BBC Radio 4 has been promoted to the most senior radio marketing role in the Corporation.

Vanessa Griffiths, marketing manager BBC Radio 4, replaces Sophie McLaughlin who was poached by David Brook, Channel 4’s director of strategy and development (MW November 5 1998).

Griffiths, whose new title is marketing manager BBC Network Radio, will be in charge of the marketing teams for Radio 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Live and digital radio. She will work closely with Jenny Abramsky, director of BBC Radio, and will report to BBC Broadcast marketing chief Sue Farr.

Griffiths’ spell at Radio 4 coincided with a turbulent period for the station, with listening figures plummeting following a shake-up in programmes by the station controller James Boyle. But the latest figures from Rajar, released this month, vindicated Boyle and his team. They showed that the listeners had returned to the station and that they were tuning in for longer.

Ammirati Puris Lintas handles the advertising for Radio 2 and 4, Lambie Nairn has responsibility for Radio 3, while Fallon McElligott is the agency for Radio 1.

Before joining the BBC, Griffiths worked at Mars as marketing manager for the ice cream portfolio.