BBC Worldwide Taps New VP & GM for Africa

LONDON: BBC Worldwide has named Joel Churcher as the VP and general manager for Africa.

Churcher will be based in Johannesburg. He will be responsible for the strategy and business development across all BBC Worldwide businesses in the region. This includes TV and digital sales, production and format sales, licensing and publishing, live events and the daily management of the BBC branded channels portfolio available on DStv. He was previously working as account director for BBC Worldwide Channels across EMEA.

Taking up the role in April, Churcher will report to Ian McDonough, BBC Worldwide’s executive VP for CEMA.

McDonough said, "Joel is an outstanding executive who has a deep passion for our business in Africa. He is the right person to build on the successful BBC business we have already established in Africa and take it to the next level.”

Churcher added, “I am extremely excited about taking up this role. Things are changing at a very fast pace in Africa, boasting six of the ten fastest growing economies in the world. I am sure that working in such a fast paced and vibrant continent will be an incredible adventure. I am very much looking forward to leading and developing our footprint on the continent and working with new business partners in new markets.”