The BBC’s Future Media and Technology chief Erik Huggers will leave the broadcaster at the end of next month to take up a role with US technology firm Intel.

Huggers, who was appointed director of FM&T in August 2008, has been credited with helping to re-establish the BBC’s strength in technology. His departure has prompted the BBC to split its Future Media and Technology (FM&T) division.

As of 1 March, chief technology officer John Linwood will head up a new Technology division which will be responsible for delivering the BBC’s digital needs including production, broadcast, connectivity and enterprise support.

Director of digital media Ralph Rivera has been appointed director of Future Media, a division which will focus on developing and delivering digital products and services to the public such as BBC iPlayer.

BBC director general, Mark Thompson, said that during Huggers’ tenure, BBC Online, BBC Red Button and BBC Mobile have witnessed “exceptional growth”, with BBC iPlayer delivering a record 145 million TV and Radio programme views across some 60 devices during December.

Huggers, who will be based at Intel’s Silicon Valley HQ in California, will take on the role of corporate vice president and general manager of Intel’s Digital Home Group.

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