BBC announces Controllers of Business

MUMBAI: The UK pubcaster BBC has announced that following BBC Vision?s announcement to maximise on-screen spend by creating a single integrated business function across Production and Commissioning, Commercial Director Bal Samra has announced three new controllers of business for Drama, Film and Acquisitions; Comedy and Entertainment; Knowledge and Daytime, and the Controller of Legal and Business Affairs.

Samra said, "By creating one single operational spine for each of the genre groups and a more strategically focussed, smaller central team, we will reduce duplication and minimise internal transaction costs. I want to create a more effective business model that works today and is fit for the future, which supports commissioners and producers alike and which delivers to our ultimate aim of putting as much money back into content as possible.

"Through these appointments, together with the changes in the way we work, the savings will enable us to deliver the additional investment announced earlier in the year of at least ?27m for 2013/14."

The Controllers of Business will be responsible for all the key business functions within their genre. Drawing together slate management, business affairs, commercial, talent rights and production management, they will work alongside the editorial Commissioning and Production Genre Controllers, aiming to improve collaboration and driving best value from the in-house guarantee and provide a better service to indie suppliers too. These are significant roles and critical to the success of the Vision Change plan.

The four appointments are:

Nick Betts - Controller of Business, Drama, Films and Acquisitions. He is currently BBC Vision head of commercial and business development.

Lisa Opie is Controller of Business, Knowledge and Daytime. She is currently Twofour Digital MD, where she leads a team of content producers, web developers and account directors across centres in the UK and the USA. She has also held the position of Director of Branded Business for the Twofour Group.

Tamara Howe is. Controller of Business, Comedy and Entertainment. She is currently BBC Vision Controller Production Operations and, alongside Liam Keelan, has been leading the Vision Change programme. Prior to joining Vision, she was BBC Children?s COO and was responsible for overseeing the department?s move to MediaCityUK.

Roger Leatham is controller of Legal and Business AffairsIn this new pan-BBC role, he will be responsible for leading the engagement with the BBC?s rights partners and talent unions and be accountable for legal and business affairs standards across Rights & Business Affairs. Currently the Head of Talent and Rights Negotiation, he has worked across all the output divisions of the BBC, as well as BBC America.