Category: Children's
Date: 06.02.2006
Printable version
Alan Yentob, BBC Creative Director, has announced the appointment of Richard Deverell as the new Controller of BBC Children's. In a simultaneous appointment, Anne Gilchrist takes on the new role of Creative Director, CBBC.
Alan Yentob said: "These two key appointments are designed to put creative renewal and a visionary strategy at the heart of our offer to children, across all services and media.
"BBC Children's audiences are already living in the digital future and everything we make for them needs to set a standard for innovation and excellence.
"Richard is an outstanding leader and strategic thinker who has the experience and vision to grasp the challenges and opportunities facing BBC Children's.
"I am confident he will build the output and reputation of the department both nationally and internationally.
"Anne Gilchrist has a tremendous track record in children's programme making and commissioning. She will inspire producers and content developers inside and outside the BBC to take the CBBC brand into a fully multi-media world."
Currently Chief Operating Officer and acting Controller of Children's - and formerly Head of BBC News Interactive - Deverell takes up the post with immediate effect.
He said: "I feel very proud to be given the opportunity to lead Children's: together we have a wonderful opportunity to inspire a new generation of children with outstanding, innovative and absorbing programmes and services."
The Creative Director role has been created to build CBBC into a thriving multi-media brand.
Responsible for all content for the CBBC channel, the role will have editorial control of the CBBC online site and responsibility for children's output on BBC ONE and BBC TWO, ensuring effective scheduling, presentation and marketing of the CBBC brand in all its manifestations.
Anne Gilchrist, currently Executive Editor Independents and Events in the department, will also take up her new post immediately and will deputise for Deverell.
She said: "For me, this is the best job in children's broadcasting and I'm enormously excited about working with Richard and with in house and indie talent to realise a new creative vision for CBBC."
Notes to Editors
Please note that the department, formerly known as CBBC, has been renamed BBC Children's.
Richard Deverell
Richard joined CBBC last year as Chief Operating Officer.
Prior to this he spent ten years in BBC News initially responsible for strategy, business development and marketing and subsequently running BBC News Interactive where he lead the development of interactive and on-demand services including the BBC News website.
Richard is married with three young children.
Anne Gilchrist
Since 2005 Anne has been Executive Editor, Independents and Events for CBBC.
Prior to this she was Head Of Entertainment for CBBC for three years, also taking on responsibility for Blue Peter in 2004.
From January 2001 to November 2002 Anne was Channel Executive for BBC ONE, working closely with and deputising for Lorraine Heggessey throughout the relaunch of the channel.
BBC Press Office
