BSkyB’s Darcey role extended after Airey’s exit

BSkyB chief operating officer Mike Darcey’s role has been expanded to include advertising sales and commercial partnerships following the satellite broadcaster’s confirmation that managing director of channels and services Dawn Airey will leave next year.

Airey (pictured), who joined Sky in January 2003, is leaving in spring to become chief executive of start-up Iostar, which intends to produce and distribute TV programming and movies. She had been rumoured to join the new launch when her Sky contract expired in autumn next year.

Airey is the second high-profile executive to resign from the broadcaster in as many months, with chief marketing officer Jon Florsheim named last month as incoming chief executive of home maintenance company Homeserve.

His departure prompted a reshuffle of Sky’s management team that saw Darcey promoted from group commercial and strategy director.

He will add responsibility for Sky’s advertising sales, broadband internet portal, joint ventures, channel distribution agreements and commercial relationships with third-party channels to his chief operating officer role.

Vic Wakeling, managing director of Sky Sports, adds responsibility for Sky News to his existing role. A company spokesman says further announcements in respect of Sky’s portfolio of entertainment assets in television and other platforms, including Sky One, Sky Two, Sky Three, Sky Movies, Sky Travel and Artsworld, will be made "in due course".