Tuesday, November 25, 2008

BBC chief appointed new Plan CEO

Plan has appointed Nigel Chapman, the current Director of BBC World Service, as its new chief executive officer.

Nigel brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge of global, multi-ethnic, and culturally diverse organisations.

He has worked for the BBC for more than 20 years and held senior management and editorial posts in television, radio and online, many with a strong emphasis on news and current affairs.

As Director of BBC World Service, he is responsible for the overall editorial leadership and management of the world's leading international radio broadcaster, BBC Arabic TV and its new media operations.

In addition to his World Service role, Nigel is also Chair of the BBC World Service Trust - the World Service's charitable arm, which uses communications and new technologies to aid development in some of the world's poorest countries.

Plan support

Nigel is also no stranger to Plan. He has spent over 6 years working at the highest levels of the international Board and Members Assembly. He is currently the Chair of the UK National Organisation.

Paul Arlman, Chairman of Plan’s International Board said: “We are delighted to have someone with such a demonstrated dedication to international co-operation, combined with a great interest in the fate of children and enormous management experience in a complex organisation. Nigel will be a great asset and inspirational leader for the organisation.”

Nigel Chapman, who is married with 2 children, said: “I am delighted to be joining Plan International as its CEO. I know from my visits to see its work first hand, and my time as Chair of the UK Trustees, that Plan has a wonderful reputation for working with millions of the world’s poorest children and their communities and helping them escape poverty. It will be a privilege to lead the Plan team to what we all hope will be a new level of impact and achievement.”

Nigel will join Plan on 1 April 2009, taking over from Tom Miller who steps down at the end of 2008.

Biographies

As Director of BBC World Service, Nigel Chapman is responsible for the overall editorial leadership and management of the world's leading international radio broadcaster and its new media operations.

He has worked for the BBC for more than 20 years.

He has held senior management and editorial posts in television, radio and online, many with a strong emphasis on news and current affairs.

After joining the BBC as a trainee in 1977 he later produced and edited high-profile current affairs television programmes, including Nationwide, Newsnight (where he worked on the first evening programme in 1980) and Breakfast News.

In 1989 Nigel Chapman became the first Editor of Public Eye - the BBC specialist weekly programme on social policy issues.

He edited the series for almost three years until moving to the BBC's south region as Head of Centre, South East at Elstree in March 1992, where he was responsible for local television and radio, current affairs and political output in London and the South East.

In 1994, he was appointed Head of Broadcasting, Midlands and East, based at Pebble Mill, Birmingham.

In November, 1996, Nigel Chapman was appointed Controller, BBC English Regions, responsible for all regional television and local radio programmes across England.

In January 1999, he became the first ever Director of BBC Online, with responsibility for the development of the UK's most popular content website.

In September 2000, he was appointed Deputy Director of BBC World Service.

In that post he had responsibility for relations with the Foreign Office, strategy, multi-media, press, public affairs, marketing and legal affairs.

He deputised for the Director of BBC World Service across the full range of his functions.

He was Acting Director of the World Service from January 2004 to his current appointment in July 2004.

He is also Chair of the World Service Trust - the World Service's charitable arm, which uses communications to aid development in some of the world's poorest countries.

Nigel Chapman is married with two children and lives in Oxford.