BBC slashes marketing departments from 20 to 8

The BBC is restructuring its marketing, communications and audiences division and cutting the number of departments from 20 to eight.

The new departments will be television; radio and music; new media and digital; journalism; out of London; brand and planning; audiences; and communications. The department heads have yet to be appointed.

Once that happens, the heads will report to newly appointed director of marketing, communications and audiences Tim Davie, who joined earlier this year from PepsiCo, where he was vice-president of marketing and franchise across Europe.

The restructure is part of BBC director-general Mark Thompson’s plans to overhaul the broadcaster by cutting costs and jobs. Davie’s division will lose 115 posts (MW December 9, 2004). Consultation began last week over the losses, with marketers having to reapply for their jobs, including those at a senior level.

Davie, who replaced Andy Duncan, now the chief executive of Channel 4, is also set to oversee a review of agencies within the next six months as their contracts are due to expire in February next year.