BBC Worldwide poaches BT boss

BBC Worldwide has poached BT’s head of multimedia content Paul Gillooly for the new role of head of global marketing for film, drama, and entertainment.

The role will put Gillooly in charge of the marketing and exploitation of a range of programme brands stretching from Wallace & Gromitt and Top of the Pops, to films such as the recently-released Mrs Brown starring Judi Dench and Billy Connolly.

BBC Worldwide is the commercial arm of the BBC set up to make profits for the rest of the corporation.

Gillooly will take up the role at the start of April. He will report to director of global brand development Jeff Taylor. Taylor is shortly expected to add marketing to his responsibilities.

Gillooly spent eight years with BT in a variety of marketing and management roles, including a period two years ago as the company’s business development manager, movies and sport.

Gillooly will leave as BT’s multimedia division prepares for a spring launch of 1,000 multimedia kiosks which will have Internet access and e-mail. The kiosks will also have local and national information, as well as a youth magazine aimed at the 18-to-34 age group who BT believes are the heaviest users of this type of technology.