BBC domestic changes staff as department names regain meaning

Incoming BBC Director-General Tony Hall has announced his first major senior management appointments. Helen BoadenHelen Boaden (right), currently head of news, becomes head of radio (a department whose name has been “Audio and Music” for the past few years).

James Purnell, a former culture minister in the UK government under Labour, returns to the BBC to the new post of director of strategy and digital. Purnell was head of corporate planning of the BBC before leaving to work for former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

BBC Vision regains the telly – it is to be known as BBC Television again. Hall says that the BBC’s audience – and everyone within the corporation – talks of radio and television, not “audio and music” and “vision” so it makes sense to give them their proper names.

Tony Hall appoined as BBC Director-General

The BBC Trust has today appointed Tony Hall – Lord Hall of Birkenhead – as the Director-General of the BBC, following the departure of George Entwistle.

Lord Hall is currently Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House, was Chairman of the board for the Cultural Olympiad and was head of BBC News and Current Affairs from 1996 to 2001. He was a digital pioneer, launching BBC News Online, as well as Radio 5 Live, BBC News 24 and BBC Parliament. At present he is Deputy Chairman of Channel 4.

Lord Hall is expected to start in early March and in the interim period Tim Davie will remain as Acting Director-General.