BBC World News MD quits
- Published: 29 September 2008 16:04
- Author: Katherine Rushton
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- Last Updated: 29 September 2008 16:04
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Anne Barnard, managing director of BBC World News, is leaving to "recharge [her] batteries" after more than 14 years at the corporation.
Sian Kevill, currently editorial director of BBC World News, will replace Barnard, reporting to director of global news Richard Sambrook.
Barnard told BBC staff this morning that she will end her tenure in November. "It's time to have a bit of a refresh, travel a bit and recharge some batteries before taking a new challenge," she said.
Barnard joined the BBC as a senior finance manager in BBC News, and moved to BBC World News as finance director in 2000. At the end of 2003 she became chief operating officer and she was made managing director in April last year.
Sambrook said: "Anne has made an enormous contribution to the channel in the last 10 years. In particular she has overseen the ongoing commercial development of the channel, with revenues more than tripling during this time, and most importantly a halving of our losses in the last four years."
When Barnard joined the channel, it was losing around £20m a year. Last year it lost £8m and it is expected to narrow that figure again in the current period.
