Long-serving BBC PR exec to step down

Donald Steel, the BBC's long-serving corporate PR executive, is reportedly leaving the corporation after more than 20 years.

Steel will step down from his role as chief communications advisor at the end of March, reports The Guardian.

However, after a break he will return to work for the BBC as a PR and communications advisor for two years.

Steel joined the BBC 22 years ago as a local radio producer, switching to PR two years later as publicist for Radio 4's The Archers.

In his 11 years as the BBC's chief media spokesman, he dealt with various high profile stories, including the murder of presenter Jill Dando and the Hutton Inquiry.

He later became head of press for BBC Pebble Mill in Birmingham and was appointed to the role of chief communications advisor in 2009.