Peter Salmon appointed Director BBC North

BBC Vision’s chief creative officer, Peter Salmon will be the first Director, BBC North.

Salmon will be based at MediaCityUK when he takes up the position in the middle of next year. He will join the BBC’s Executive Board in 2010 as the corporation starts the move to Salford.

Early rumours had it that Alan Yentob may have been in line for the job, but Salmon’s appointment will appease many as not only is he a Lancastrian (Burnley born and bred), but he’s a programme maker, who’s worked in Manchester for the BBC and Granada.

He directed the first-ever film to be shown on Crimewatch and then produced the series. He co-created Sport Relief and signed Nick Park to the BBC and executive-produced The Wrong Trousers.

He’s also worked on Blue Peter, Newsnight, Radio 1’s Newsbeat and Manchester’s File on Four series.

Leaving in the 90’s he became director of programmes at Granada looking after shows Cold Feet, The Royle Family and World in Action.

He will now be directly responsible for BBC Sport, BBC 5 Live and 5 Live Sports Extra and BBC Children’s. Salmon will also have managerial oversight of BBC Learning and those Future Media & Technology staff who will be located in MediaCity.

He will take up some of the responsibilities of the new job in January, initially working to chief operating officer, Caroline Thomson.

Outstanding

"The appointment of a Director to lead the move to Salford and its subsequent development is a huge step along the path to realising the BBC's ambition to produce half of its output outside of London by 2016," said Mark Thompson, Director-General, BBC.
 
"I cannot think of anyone better qualified than Peter to lead this bold venture which I believe will have significant impact across the BBC as new ways of working and using technology are developed in practice.
 
"He has been an outstanding programme maker and editorial leader and his experience stretches across most of the BBC's output, including Sport, BBC One and now BBC Vision Productions.
 
"Peter has a long and continuing connection with the North of England and is well known for his work at Granada.
 
"He rightly commands huge respect across the BBC and the wider media industry and I am very pleased he has decided to accept this exciting new role."

Indies

"This is the first big broadcasting venture of a new decade and can define the way the BBC works for a generation,” added Peter Salmon.
 
"I want to help build a world-class, creative powerhouse for the BBC based in the North of England but networked into the whole UK.
 
"I think this significant cluster of programme-making and broadcasting can be a magnet for other like-minded organisations too, from independent producers to facilities and technology companies, educational bodies to training groups for established and new media.
 
"Though I will be sad to move on next year from leading the BBC's in-house teams at Vision Productions – the biggest and best group of content-makers in the world – I am really happy that I will still be working with many of them in Salford Quays."
 
Peter Salmon became chief creative officer of BBC Vision Productions in October 2006.
 
He currently oversees the work of about 3,000 people for BBC in-house production, which is behind shows like Strictly Come Dancing, Doctor Who, Top Gear, Antiques Roadshow, Dragons' Den, Top Gear, Watchdog, EastEnders, Survivors and The One Show.

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