BBC2 boss leaving for new archive role

Roly Keating is leaving his job as controller of BBC Two to become the corporation's first director of archive content.

The new post will see Keating lead a strategy across all divisions, public and commercial, to maximise public access to the BBC's archive material.

From October, he will be placed within BBC vision where he will have editorial responsibility for release and management of video catch-up and archive content on all platforms, including the iPlayer, UKTV and other on-demand or commercial services. Keating will work with other divisions to agree their archive release strategies.

Keating will also work with Erik Huggers, the new director of future media and technology, on archive digitisation and extending access to programme information.

Director general Mark Thompson said: "We want to make sure there is greater public access to this archive, whilst also ensuring the archive is fully exploited for the benefit of licence payers."

Keating said: "This is an exciting and daunting challenge, but there's a really simple idea at its heart: giving people the chance to enjoy and engage with great programmes and content, whenever and wherever they were first broadcast."

Jana Bennett, director of BBC vision, said Keating left BBC Two as the only terrestrial channel to gain reach and share in peaktime this year. She said: "This is a good time to bring his strategic vision and TV experience to bear on the on-demand world."

A new BBC Two controller will be appointed in the autumn, as will other positions to support Keating's new role.