Dear all,

I wanted to tell you about my first senior executive appointments to the top team of the BBC. It is my first task to build the team that will deliver a new strategy and creative vision for the BBC and define public service broadcasting for the next decade. I want to bring in great people from outside the BBC and combine them with the best people from within. I'm also making some direct appointments to the team where in my judgment that's right, but combining that with some where we'll be advertising. There's a lot of hard work ahead but these appointments are the first steps.

As you will see, I am changing the names of Vision and Audio & Music to Television and Radio respectively as this is what we, and our audiences, actually call them.

I want to put a big emphasis on what we want the future role of the BBC to be, so I am bringing in James Purnell in the new position of director, strategy and digital, starting on 20 March. He is currently a senior producer at Rare Day and adviser to the Boston Consulting Group. He is also a former secretary of state for culture, and on the board of the British Film Institute and the Royal National Theatre. James is returning to the BBC, having been head of corporate planning in the 1990s. He will bring together the current Future Media, Policy & Strategy, Marketing & Audiences and Public Affairs & Communication divisions. Thinking about future media is critical to the BBC and so joining that up with our strategic thinking should help us define the most powerful possible case for public service broadcasting. James will sit on the executive board.

After what will be nearly five months doing a fantastic job as acting director general, Tim Davie will be moving to BBC Worldwide on 2 April in an expanded role of CEO, BBC Worldwide and director, global. He will be responsible for developing the BBC's global brand and editorial strategy. Specifically, he will lead our efforts to offer a joined-up BBC across markets and genres around the world.

Helen Boaden will move to the role of director, Radio on 15 April. Helen was formerly controller of Radio 4, winning the Sony Radio Academy station of the year for two consecutive years. Combined with the excellent job she has done in News over the last eight years, Helen has much to bring to the world of radio and music. Fran Unsworth will act as director, News from 19 March while we start the recruitment process for the permanent role, which we hope to complete by April.

Finally, we are also starting the process of recruiting a new director for Television as well as appointing the new person to lead the combined Finance & Business division. Again, I hope to announce these appointments by April.

I am really looking forward to starting full-time as director general on 2 April. I've already had the chance to visit a number of teams and sites including Salford, Glasgow and Nottingham. I am very impressed by what I am seeing and hearing. It will be my priority in my first months to visit as much of the rest of the organisation as I can to learn how it has changed since I was last here and to listen to what you have to say. I plan to share more of my vision for the BBC after that.

In the meantime, I'd like to thank you and Tim for the continued great work everyone is doing.

Best wishes,

Tony Hall

Director general designate


Via "The Guardian".

Seems to be an eminently suitable choice, having been that for the best part of 60 years!!!

But I am worried about James Purnell being added directly to the Executive board since he is very much a 'Birtist' (to wit his article in the FT very recently).