Dear All, 
For the last sixteen years we have been investing in BBC Online as our single global destination on the Internet. The service has gone through incredible growth and we are about to start a new and exciting chapter. The strategy review Putting Quality First proposes significant changes. First and foremost, everything we do on the Internet must fit our five editorial priorities:

• The best journalism in the world
• Inspiring knowledge, music and culture
• Ambitious UK drama and comedy
• Outstanding children’s content
• Events that bring communities and the nation together

Furthermore, we propose setting clearer boundaries by reducing the number of top level directories from 400 to 200 by 2013. We also believe that we can do more with less and our intention is that by 2013, we should be spending 25% less against the BBC Online Service Licence budget. I believe that these proposals will help us to re‐balance the service to provide greater, long‐term value to our audiences with an emphasis on high quality, distinctive online offers and a more open approach to the wider market.

We are, in effect, strengthening our approach to BBC Online. In the years to come, its importance will grow, especially with broadband penetration likely to reach levels similar to radio and television. Our longer‐term vision is for BBC Online to offer all our content live and on‐demand; to be personally and location‐relevant; pervasively social; and available across a broad range of devices.  

The changes I am announcing are just the first step in a review of BBC Online by the newly formed Online Direction Group (ODG), which I chair and which is supported and organised by the Online Controller. The ODG is responsible for proposing the strategy for BBC Online to the Executive Board, as well as for overall performance management and business planning. One of ODG’s first and most important tasks is to plan, and to determine ownership and accountability for, a smaller number of more integrated categories and products across the site—a process which is ongoing. 

ODG replaces the Online Board and has been elevated to become a sub‐committee of the Executive Board. Its members are Richard Deverell (COO, BBC North), Andy Parfitt (Controller, R1/1Xtra/Asian Network), Roly Keating (Director Archive Content), Ken MacQuarrie (Director BBC Scotland), James Holden (acting for Helen Normoyle, Director MC&A Audiences), Seetha Kumar (Controller BBC Online), James Micklethwait (Head of FM&T Strategy), and John Turner (Director FM&T Finance).  

To re‐shape the Future Media side of our division, I am announcing the following changes effective immediately:  

The introduction of a new role - Director, Digital Media 

• The Director, Digital Media will have overall responsibility for all Future Media resources in FM&T. Reporting directly to me, this role will lead for FM&T on BBC Online, BBC iPlayer, BBC Mobile and BBC Red Button, in collaboration with the content groups to ensure that we always deliver ‘the world’s best digital media services’. The focus of the Director will be to manage and develop high performing teams of software engineers, product managers and user experience and design staff and to successfully partner with the content division teams in Journalism, Audio & Music, Vision and North. We are currently recruiting for this position and I will be acting in this role in the meantime.

The Director, Digital Media will have the following direct reports: 

• Mark Kortekaas will be General Manager, Online Technology Group. Mark will have responsibility for creating a single back‐end platform and services offering that will power all our online products. He will be bringing together Forge, Operations, Service Engineering and key services which include: stats systems, AV data and tools, location and mapping services, social services and search technology. The Online Technology Group and the platform and services they manage will support three audience‐facing product groups (described below), which will each be led by a General Manager.

• Phil Fearnley becomes General Manager, News and Knowledge. Phil will run this new product group with responsibility for working with the content groups to design and build online products in categories including: News and Weather, Global/National/Regional/Local, Homepage and Knowledge. I am also very pleased to inform you that the World Service Future Media team led by Sally Thompson will be joining this product group at a date yet to be decided. This offers us a great opportunity to ensure that we have a unified high‐quality online service around the world. Furthermore, the foreign language skills that this team brings will be applied to all of BBC Online developments going forward.
• In addition, we are recruiting for a General Manager, On‐Demand. This role will lead a new product group with responsibility for the continuing development of BBC iPlayer and for working with the content groups to design and build online products in categories including: Radio Networks, TV Channels, Drama/Comedy/Entertainment, Archive and Programme Support, and Search & Navigation. We will ensure appropriate interim arrangements are in place while we recruit for the post.
• Rahul Chakkara will be General Manager, Children’s, Sport and Applications. In addition to his current responsibilities for Television Platforms, Rahul will run this new product group—working with the content groups to design and build online products in categories including Children’s, Sport, Learning, Music, Mobile and Red Button. The long‐term goal of the applications effort is to create a single centre of excellence that develops all BBC apps across PC, TV, Mobile and Games Devices.

Over the course of the next few weeks, the Online Direction Group will finalise the framework of categories and products that will become the priorities for the next few years. Once completed, this may necessitate some redistribution of products amongst managers, but the initial grouping of the existing products and services at this stage will ensure that we continue to deliver our commitments.

• Marcelo Marer becomes General Manager, User Experience & Design. He will lead and manage all our UX&D resources and work with the other General Managers to define the operating model that fits best. His objective is to create a vibrant and cohesive UX&D organisation so that all our online products offer the best possible user‐experience for all audiences across all devices.
• Seetha Kumar will continue as Controller, BBC Online for the immediate future, reporting to me and helping the Online Direction Group to shape the new 3-year BBC online strategy. Once the task is complete she has decided to move on to a new challenge. Seetha has brought leadership and energy during her two years as Controller BBC Online. Her focus on audience needs has created a strong editorial overview, driven a more cohesive approach and determined the future look and feel of the service. She has provided a greater clarity to BBC Online’s position in the market and has been key in redefining our external relations. I am grateful for her valuable contribution and for her continued support during the transition.

Other changes: 

• As announced by Canvas, Anthony Rose will become the Chief Technology Officer, Project Canvas. Our loss is Canvas’ gain. However, this new role is a brilliant opportunity for Anthony to help shape the future of television. Canvas is a strategic priority for the BBC and having Anthony in this post will help ensure that the Canvas product is a resounding success, pending Trust approval. I have also asked Anthony to contribute to BBC Online for one day per week over the next three months as Head of Technical Architecture and Product Planning. I would like to congratulate Anthony on his new appointment and thank him for his hard work and passion for BBC iPlayer which has undoubtedly helped put the BBC on the map as a global internet powerhouse. Anthony will take up this role with effect from 1st May.
• Nic Newman. Following the restructure, Nic has decided to pursue opportunities outside the BBC and will be leaving on 1st April. Nic has been with the BBC for over twenty years, taking senior roles in international news and current affairs, before moving to online as part of the launch team of the BBC News website. In recent years, he has been a vital bridge between editorial and technical—heading development and product management for News Interactive and then as FM&T controller driving digital strategies for the whole of Journalism. I would like to thank Nic for his commitment, dedication and enormous contribution to the BBC’s success in these areas.

I know that I have provided a lot of information in this mail, and for the Future Media teams who are directly affected this will be a challenging time as you all start to discuss what it really means for you. Nonetheless, during this transitional period, it’s vital that we remain focused on our key priorities, including shipping the new Homepage, BBC iPlayer v3, the Election, News refresh, World Cup and more.

The new General Managers will work together and share more details as soon as possible. I will be making myself available to meet with as many of you as possible over the coming weeks as we start to put this new structure into operation. The new organisation chart is attached below.  Please refer any questions to your line manager or email me directly.

Erik