George Entwistle Appointed Director of BBC Vision

LONDON: Following Jana Bennett’s departure from BBC Vision, George Entwistle is taking over as director for the company, also joining the BBC’s executive board with immediate effect.

Entwistle is responsible for BBC One, Two, Three and Four, as well as the HD feeds and BBC Films. He also oversees Vision Productions, with additional editorial oversight for UKTV. He has been acting director since the end of January, following Bennett’s departure to join BBC Worldwide. His previous roles include editing Newsnight, launching The Culture Show on BBC Two and being acting controller of BBC Four.

Entwistle commented of his appointment: "I am genuinely honored to have been chosen for the role of director of BBC Vision. The BBC’s television portfolio is of enormous importance to the creative and cultural life of the U.K. and is performing strongly in terms of quality and audience reach and share. At the heart of its success, BBC Vision Productions is responsible for some of the best television programs we broadcast.

"I feel enormously proud to be leading these teams and I will do my utmost to build on the legacy of talent and excellence left by my predecessor, Jana Bennett."

Mark Thompson, BBC’s director general, said: "I am delighted to be able to confirm George as the BBC’s new director of Vision. The breadth of his experience across journalism, the arts and factual programs, combined with his rock-solid editorial judgment and deep understanding of the BBC’s values, equip him brilliantly for this formidable task."

He added: "I am looking forward to working closely with him to ensure the BBC’s television portfolio remains the envy of the broadcasting world."