Longtime BBC executive Bob Shennan is leaving the British broadcaster and media company at the end of March.
Formerly the BBC’s Director of Radio and Music, Shennan was promoted to the role of Group Managing Director of the BBC back in March 2019 and to Director of Audio for BBC Studios in April 2022.
As the BBC’s Group Managing Director, Shennan was responsible for strategy, policy, legal, commercial rights, business affairs and partnerships at the broadcaster.
Accoriding to Radio Today, the Director of Audio for BBC Studios role was created in early 2022 ‘with the aim of growing BBC Studio’s audio business internationally and attracting new talent to the world of audio’.
Sharing the news of his departure from the BBC in a Linkedin post on Tuesday (January 10), Shennan said he’s “really looking forward to [his] next chapter”, but didn’t reveal what his next move is.
Shennan was promoted to the role of Director of Radio and Music in October 2016.
Prior to that, he was Controller of Radio 2, Asian Network and 6 Music and Director of BBC Music.
Shennan’s career with the BBC started in 1987 and he went on to work in a variety of senior roles including Head of BBC Sport from 1998 to 2000.
As Director of Radio and Music, Shennan has overseen a wide range of BBC channels and events, including BBC Radios 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 live, digital-only stations 1Xtra, 6Music, BBC Radio 4 Extra, 5 live sports extra and Asian Network, as well as the BBC Performing Groups, the BBC Proms, BBC Music and radio production.
“Over the years I have been very fortunate to lead BBC Sport, Radio 5 Live, Radio 2, 6 Music and the Asian Network.”
Bob Shennan
In a statement published via LinkedIn on Tuesday (January 10), Shennan said: “It has been a privilege as well as great fun to work in such a variety of jobs at the most important media organisation on the planet”.
He added: “Over the years I have been very fortunate to lead BBC Sport, Radio 5 Live, Radio 2, 6 Music and the Asian Network. I have been a trustee of Children in Need for the past 12 years and more recently worked, first as the Director of BBC Radio and BBC Music, and then as Group Managing Director.
“Thank you for all your support and friendship. I’m really looking forward to my next chapter. More on that very shortly. Onwards and upwards.”Music Business Worldwide
