New Directors of Entertainment and Factual appointed in BBC Content restructure

BBC Chief Content Officer Kate Phillips has introduced changes to the division’s senior leadership team to deliver even greater focus and accelerate the BBC’s strategic priorities.

The restructure reflects the growing impact of Entertainment and Factual content, with the creation of two new Director roles in this fiercely competitive and fast changing global media market, as the BBC continues to commit to more across the UK presence and programming, serving all audiences.

Fiona Campbell has been appointed Director of Factual and Ed Havard has been appointed Director of Entertainment.

BBC’s Chief Content Officer Kate Phillips says: “In Fiona Campbell and Ed Havard we have two inspirational leaders who will ensure that Entertainment and Factual continue to thrive on the BBC. They’re both committed to delivering distinctive, world class content to BBC iPlayer and the portfolio of channels. Crucially they both put creativity and audiences first and will bring a real energy, clarity and ambition to their teams. I’m looking forward to working closely with them and empowering them to pursue their ambitions for the BBC. I believe these new roles, allowing more time and focus on individual genres, will bring big benefits to Unscripted, and all the amazing producers, creatives and partners we work with.”

On Fiona Campbell’s appointment

Kate Phillips says: “Fiona’s extensive experience across Unscripted, BBC iPlayer, BBC Three, Youth audiences and News & Current Affairs makes her uniquely placed to lead BBC Factual into the future. She is an outstanding leader and creative powerhouse with a wealth of broadcasting and digital experience. Fiona has a proven track record of innovation, creativity and an ability to reach young and underserved audiences. She’s committed to the strength of our specialisms and ensuring that we’re in the best possible shape to continue to deliver high quality, distinctive factual content for everyone across the UK. Fiona will continue to be based in Northern Ireland as she takes on this new senior role.”

Fiona Campbell says: “It’s a huge privilege to join the BBC Factual team as Director. Together with independent suppliers, the commissioning teams across the UK are delivering world class content to audiences, entertaining and inspiring on a daily basis. I really look forward to what everyone can achieve, how we will innovate further and the impact the content will have on audiences in the UK and beyond in next few years.”

On Ed Havard’s appointment

Kate Phillips says: “Ed brings to the BBC a wealth of invaluable experience. At Channel Four as Head of Entertainment and TV Events he was responsible for a huge variety of shows including The Last Leg, Celebrity Gogglebox, and the BAFTA-award winning Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan. More recently at NBCUniversal as Senior Vice President he has worked with multiple indies and broadcast partners, including the BBC where he led the deal for groundbreaking co-commissions for The Traitors and Destination X. In a former life Ed also worked for the BBC in senior roles across news, factual, events and entertainment. With his vast experience of public service broadcasting, commercial deals, digital strategy and the international market, he is uniquely placed to continue to strengthen the impact of BBC Entertainment for audiences across the UK.”

Ed Havard says: “The past seven years at NBCUniversal have been a genuine joy, working with some of the most talented and generous teams in global television. I will miss them hugely, but the opportunity to return to the BBC and work alongside Kate Phillips is impossible to resist. The BBC’s Entertainment slate across studio, reality, events, formats and lifestyle is one of the most ambitious and prolific in the world, and I can’t wait to start working with the world class entertainment teams across the UK to build on that legacy.”

The Director of Entertainment will oversee and support Entertainment, Daytime, Factual Entertainment and Events and the Director of Factual will oversee and support Arts and Classical Music TV, Documentaries and Specialist Factual.

These new roles will begin in the Spring. In the meantime, Fiona will continue as the Interim Director of Unscripted and Michael Jochnowitz as the Editor of Unscripted.

When Ed and Fiona start their new roles, the Director and Editor of Unscripted roles will both close.