Andrew McKerlie, whose move from the BBC to facilities operation The Farm caused concern within the industry, has left the company after less than two months.

Andrew McKerlie, whose move from the BBC to facilities operation The Farm caused concern within the industry, has left the company after less than two months.

Rival facilities companies were anxious about McKerlie joining The Farm Group's west London facility, Uncle, because he had previously been Factual and Learning relationship manager with the BBC - and been privy to information about their businesses.

Responding to concerns in the market the BBC issued a statement last month declaring that McKerlie's move to Uncle did "not represent in any way a conflict of interest or give The Farm an unfair advantage".

But McKerlie's tenure as general manager at Uncle has proved surprisingly short with a statement issued this week confirming he had already left the company.

Co-owner and founder of The Farm Nicky Sargent said he had left to return to programme-making: "We're all sorry about the situation, but his first love is in production."

Uncle handles a number of BBC programmes including Watchdogand Panoramaspecials.

McKerlie was unavailable for comment this week.