BBC Worldwide signs Dobson

by Ben Bold, Media Week 30-Sep-08, 15:00

LONDON - BBC Worldwide has confirmed the appointment of Chris Dobson, previously Microsoft's most senior UK commercial employee, as executive vice-president and general manager of global ad sales.

Dobson will oversee non-UK advertising across the company's overseas pay-TV channels and online services, and report to Darren Childs, managing director of global channels.

Previous reports claimed that Dobson was joining BBC Worldwide in an unspecified role, although the company had not yet confirmed the hire.

Dobson's arrival is the culmination of a raft of changes at BBC Worldwide. The process kicked off 12 months ago, when its in-house advertising sales teams across online, TV and news were brought together under the leadership of Jonathan Howlett, director of advertising sales (outside the US), and Mark Gall, senior vice-president of BBC America and BBC Digital Media Sales.