Osman takes key role at BBC marketing

The BBC has appointed controller of press and publicity Sally Osman to the number two position in its marketing and communications division – head of communications.

The appointment comes amid speculation that Osman is in line to take the division’s top job as director of marketing and communications when Matthew Bannister leaves the corporation in December. Osman refuses to comment on this.

She says: “This is the communications half of the department, though we work hand in glove with marketing.”

Osman joined the BBC two years ago from Channel Five where she was head of corporate and public relations. Before that she was a publisher at Redwood Publishing.