BBC World Service Director to step down

Liliane Landor, Senior Controller of BBC News International Services and BBC World Service Director, has decided to leave the BBC later this year.

BBC Director-General Tim Davie says: “The whole of the BBC owes Liliane a huge debt of gratitude. She is an exceptional journalist and editor. The BBC World Service is one of the jewels in the BBC’s crown, and has flourished under her leadership.

“Liliane has been a formidable champion of the BBC’s international services, and an inspirational leader to so many BBC News staff. I’m extremely sorry Liliane has decided to leave us, and wish her the very best for the future.”

BBC News CEO Deborah Turness says: “In a polarised world where truth is under attack, Liliane has led our BBC World Service teams with real courage. She has been a global ambassador for our powerful and important journalism, and has worked with great skill to modernise World Service output to reach digital audiences. Liliane is a person of great integrity and I will miss her wisdom very much. ”

Liliane Landor says: “Serving as Director of the BBC World Service has been an immense privilege. To have been entrusted with leading a global service relied upon by hundreds of millions worldwide is humbling and the greatest honour of my professional life.

“With media freedom under threat, the World Service is a force for good and the BBC needs to look after it.”

Liliane Landor rejoined the BBC in 2021, after a role as Head of Foreign News at Channel 4 News.

Liliane built a major part of her journalistic career at the BBC, where she began at the French Service.

She went on to manage, present, and edit key areas of the BBC World Service, including a role as head of News and Current Affairs in English, before becoming Controller of Languages, where she was editorially responsible for all non-English language services on radio, TV and online. She left this role in 2016.

Liliane also founded the BBC’s staff network, Global Women in News, which remains high-profile and active, and launched the popular 100 Women project in 2014, being named on the list herself in 2016.

Liliane will leave the BBC in July.