BBC rejig puts Duffy’s role in doubt

Speculation is growing over the future of Maureen Duffy, BBC controller of TV marketing.

Tensions have arisen as a result of a potential management reshuffle, in which controller of TV strategy for BBC Broadcast Jane Scott would be moved to a newly-created strategic post within the marketing department.

It is thought that Duffy sees Scott’s new responsibilities as encroaching on her job.

Scott is an experienced marketer by background. She was formerly international marketing director of Financial Times UK before being poached by the BBC three years ago.

Duffy is to attend a hearing to discuss her future, accompanied by Mark Thompson, BBC director of national and regional broadcasting. Duffy worked with Thompson when he was controller of BBC2.

Duffy and her boss Sue Farr, BBC public service marketing director, were both unavailable for comment. Thompson refused to take calls.

BBC Broadcast controller of press and publicity Sally Osman said in an official statement: “As far as we are aware, Maureen Duffy is not leaving the BBC.”

Scott and Duffy are currently on the same management rung at the corporation, although they work in different departments within BBC Broadcast. Scott, who reports to BBC director of strategy and channel management Robin Foster, was brought in to a newly-created post to develop a five-year strategy positioning BBC Broadcast in the multi-channel age.

Duffy, who is renowned for her hard work and down-to-earth style, was Farr’s first key hiring in the BBC’s new marketing team. She was poached from J Walter Thompson, where she worked for 15 years.

Her job covers marketing responsibility for BBC1, BBC2 and non-commercially funded digital TV services.

Since her arrival two years ago, she has overseen the launch of BBC Choice and BBC Knowledge, and well-received trailers such as the EastEnders’ “Everybody’s talking about it” campaign.