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BBC names new kids’ boss

The BBC has appointed Alice Webb, currently chief operating officer of the UK pubcaster’s northern England operations, as the new director of its children’s division.

Alice Webb

Alice Webb

Webb will replace Joe Godwin at the end of February, taking over responsibility for the corporation’s two children’s channels, CBeebies and CBBC.

Kay Benbow, controller the BBC preschool channel CBeebies, has been in temporary charge of the department while it searched for a permanent replacement for Godwin, who left the role to become head of the BBC Academy.

Webb will report to Peter Salmon, director of BBC England, having joined the pubcaster a decade ago from PA Consulting Group where she worked with organisations including Orange, The Cabinet Office, Reuters and Deutsche Bank.

She moved to the North West in 2011 to become chief operating officer of BBC North, orchestrating the migration of key BBC departments, including Children’s, from London to the North of England.

“Alice is a rising industry star who has helped make the BBC and MediaCityUK the fastest growing digital hub in Europe and she brings the same energy, focus and conviction to one of the most crucial jobs in the sector,” said Salmon.

Among the names tipped for the job following news of Godwin’s departure were Michael Carrington, CEO of UK prodco The Foundation, and Nigel Pickard, who previously held top job at BBC Children’s between 2000 and 2002.

However, industry sources told C21 last year that the BBC would be likely to recruit from in-house to fill the position.

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