BBC Worldwide hires new finance chief

BBC Worldwide has appointed former Sky and Goldman Sachs executive Neil Chugani as its chief financial officer.

He will take up the post in December after leaving Goldman Sachs International where he is executive director.

Chugani's previous jobs include director of corporate finance, IR and treasury and deputy head of strategic planning at Sky.

At BBC Worldwide Chugani will be charged with developing a five-year growth plan. It has recently announced significant expansion plans and bought a 75 per cent stake in Lonely Planet.

As the corporation's commercial arm it has been asked to increase its profits in coming years to help the tight overall BBC budget.

Chugani said the Lonely Planet purchase demonstated it was a "dynamic and fast-growing business."

He added: "I am looking forward to playing a major part in the business achieving its strategic and financial goals."

Current chief financial officer David King will become managing director of acquisitions.