Teletext boss takes on new role at BBC marketing

The BBC has recruited Teletext marketer Ash Makkar to oversee marketing for BBC2, BBC4 and BBC Knowledge.

He takes the title head of marketing and pictures for these brands, and joins the corporation at a time when budgets for its marketing, communication and audiences division are forecast to be further squeezed. Reports suggest a further 5% may be cut from the division’s £80m budget by 2012/13.

Makkar is a former brand director for BSkyB and former head of new business development at advertising agency St Luke’s. He joined Teletext as head of marketing in January 2006. He replaces Lyndsay Nuttall, who has joined MySpace as international marketing director.

The BBC’s public image has taken a number of blows over the past year with the controversy over faking winners and misleading audiences in phone-in competitions. It was fined £400,000 for breaches of the broadcasting code last July.

Makkar will report to head of marketing and pictures for BBC Vision Naomi Gibney.

Sharon Baylay was recently appointed BBC director of marketing, communications and audiences. She was previously general manager of Microsoft’s online services division, and has taken up many of the responsibilities handled by Tim Davie. He was promoted to director of audio and music in June last year.