BBC director quits after 39 years

The BBC’s director of audio and music has stepped down after almost 40 years to run the UK’s Heritage Lottery Fund.

Jenny Abramsky, who leaves at the end of the summer, edited the World At One, PM and the Today programme on BBC radio before becoming editor of all radio news and current affairs.

BBC director-general Mark Thompson described her contribution to the BBC as immense. “She will leave a precious and lasting legacy. Everything she has done has been characterised by her legendary passion for the medium of radio and the BBC as a public service broadcaster, as well as her devotion to BBC audiences.”

Abramsky is to become chairman of the Heritage Lottery Fund, which allocates money raised by the UK’s National Lottery. “Whilst this is a wonderful opportunity, it will be a great wrench for me to leave the BBC,” she said.

“I have spent my working life here, the vast majority of it in radio, and I am as passionate about it now as when I joined as a programme operations assistant 39 years ago.”