BBC Worldwide appoints ex-marketer as CEO

BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the public service broadcaster, has appointed former marketer Tim Davie as its chief executive officer.

Doctor Who
Doctor Who: One of the popular BBC franchises Davie will be responsible for expanding across the world.

Davie, who is currently director of BBC Audio and Music, will succeed John Smith, who announced he is stepping down from the position after eight years today (19 October) to “explore new opportunities in the commercial sector”.

The recently appointed director general of the BBC, George Entwistle, says: “[John] has turned the company into a truly global phenomenon delivering a fantastic financial injection into the BBC every year. He leaves the company ideally set up for the future challenges it faces in a digital world.”

Davie will be responsible for expanding the reach of global franchises such as Doctor Who and Top Gear to grow revenue for BBC’s commercial business, in order for profits to be reinvested back into the public broadcaster. In the 2011 financial year BBC Worldwide’s total returns to the BBC rose by 19 per cent to a record £216m.

Prior to his current role, which he took up in 2008, Davie was director of the BBC’s marketing communications and audiences division.

Before that he looked after marketing and franchises for PepsiCo Europe, where he oversaw global brand marketing for territories outside the US.

Graham Ellis, controller of production for BBC Audio and Music, will take over Davie’s role on an interim basis.

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