Former Panorama executive producer Aisling O’Connor has been appointed to the new role of Head of Commissioning role for BBC England.
She will oversee BBC England’s non-news TV portfolio, which includes current affairs programme Inside Out in Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle. She will also develop opportunities to commission more TV and online content for English audiences by working with other parts of the BBC.
BBC England includes all the BBC’s regional and local services in the English regions such as Local Radio and regional TV. O’Connor has more than 25 years’ television experience and is currently the senior editorial policy adviser for BBC News and Current Affairs.
She said: “I’m looking forward to working across England, delivering content which reflects the lives and stories of our diverse audience, from Hull to Hastings, Newcastle to Newquay.”
Helen Thomas, Director of BBC England, added: “We’ve created this role to work within the BBC to find opportunities to create more content for people in England across a broader range of genres.
“With her huge network of contacts, and excellent relationships with senior people across the industry, Aisling brings a wealth of experience, enthusiasm and innovation that will help deliver content that appeals to English audiences and reflects communities right across the country.”
There were previously 10 head of regions and a head of digital in BBC England. These posts have closed and replaced by six new senior editorial roles: a Head of News, the Head of TV Commissioning and four regional leads covering the North, the Midlands, the East and South East and the West and South West.
he changes are designed to ensure the BBC in England adapts to changing audience demographics, develops successful digital products, continues to provide trusted local news online, on television, and on radio and reflects modern England in all its content.
