The BBC have announced that their Comms and Marketing director Tim Davie will take over from Jenny Abramsky as head of the Corporation's radio and music programming division. It's something of a landmark appointment because it is the first time someone from the marketing department has been given such an important job - Radio 1 chief Andy Parfitt, also touted for the top job, would have been a more obvious appointment.
Confirming the appointment, BBC DG Mark Thompson told reporters: "Radio is at the heart of the BBC's public service mission and millions of listeners rely on its quality, range and integrity every day. Tim's drive, knowledge and sheer love of the medium will ensure that BBC radio remains creatively strong and vibrant in the years to come. His insight into audiences and their expectations of the BBC will be particularly valuable".
Davie himself said: "It is a great privilege to build on the outstanding legacy of Jenny Abramsky and take on the leadership of a very talented team. This is a special role because of the unique cultural contribution of the BBC's audio and music output which is highly valued by millions of people. As a passionate advocate of radio, I am excited by the challenge of continuing to deliver not only distinctive BBC services but also to support the growth of the medium as a whole across traditional and digital platforms".