BBC Director of Radio and Music Bob Shennan (pictured) has been promoted to the newly created role of Group Managing Director of the British broadcaster.
Shennan will take up his new post in April and will sit on the Executive Committee.
From next month he will be responsible for strategy, policy, legal, commercial rights, business affairs and partnerships at the broadcaster, reports Radio Today.
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.
According to Radio Today, Director General Lord Hall of the BBC sent an email to staff stating: “Bob’s a great leader: he enables people working for him to give of their best – and he’s proved time and again in sport, in radio and in music how formidable and collaborative he is.
“I want the BBC to be the best led, best managed and most creative media company in the world. Bob Shennan’s appointment will help deliver just that.”
“Bob has made a huge difference to BBC Radio and Music.”
James Purnell, BBC
James Purnell, Director of Radio & Education at the BBC, added: “Bob has made a huge difference to BBC Radio and Music.
“Just in the last year, he’s pulled off the BBC’s most ambitious live music event in The Biggest Weekend, worked with the Controllers to transform the daytime schedules of Radio 1, 2 and 6 Music and played a leading role in launching BBC Sounds, challenging the emerging global gatekeepers in music and radio.
“He’s been a fantastic colleague, caring about the well-being of everyone in R&M and shaping the BBC’s culture and relationships with presenters. All those areas are at the heart of his new role, so we’ll be working closely with him in the years to come.”Music Business Worldwide
