BBC’s Director of Television to Exit

LONDON: Danny Cohen, the BBC's director of television, is leaving the organization to pursue a new leadership challenge.

Cohen's remit covers the strategic, creative, operational and financial leadership of BBC Television, including BBC One, Two, Three and Four. He oversees a team of 3,000-plus people, producing more than 10,000 hours of content a year. Prior to joining the BBC, Cohen was the head of E4 and before that head of Channel 4 Documentaries.

He will leave the BBC at the end of November. Mark Linsey, the controller of entertainment commissioning, will take on Cohen's responsibilities until an appointment is made.

Cohen said: "After eight wonderful years at the BBC, it is time for my next big challenge. BBC Television is on brilliant creative form. I feel very privileged to have led Television for the world's finest public service broadcaster and to have worked with so many smart and talented people. In particular, I'd like to thank my fantastic team across BBC Television, all the people who have been involved with making our programs in the last few years, my colleagues on the executive board and Tony Hall, who I admire greatly.
 
"In the last few weeks I've been approached about a number of exciting opportunities and I want to consider these in an open and transparent way.
 
"I'm very proud of the wide-ranging success of BBC Television under my leadership. In this period of intense competition we've reached 92 percent of U.K. audiences every week, delivered outstanding channel services and built the number one digital service across the television industry in the iPlayer. Throughout this time, we've delivered a fantastically rich slate of groundbreaking shows, thought-provoking ideas, national and international awards and global hits. We have made our audiences laugh, cry and think and have made extraordinary imprints on our national culture and the BBC's international reputation.
 
"There has never been a more exciting time for television and digital media. I'm looking forward to taking up a new leadership role in this age of intense creative and technological innovation."
 
Tony Hall, the BBC's director-general, said: "Danny has done an extraordinary job over the last eight years at the BBC. In a world of intense competition and choice, he has further enhanced the BBC's reputation for quality programming that is full of ambition and creativity.
 
"Danny has led the incredible resurgence of drama on the BBC, having commissioned or overseen shows like Happy Valley, Poldark, Last Tango in Halifax, Wolf Hall, Top of the Lake, Peaky Blinders, Doctor Who and the forthcoming Dickensian and War and Peace. He has also made an outstanding contribution to comedy and entertainment with shows such as Cradle to Grave, Peter Kay's Car-Share, Strictly Come Dancing, Eastenders and The Graham Norton Show. He also led BBC One's 2012 London Olympics' coverage. That is one hell of a CV.
 
"He is one of TV’s great talents. I know everyone who has worked with Danny has huge admiration for what he has delivered for the BBC. I want to wish him well for the future."