Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Half of all senior managers whose roles are in scope to move to the new centre for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ North at MediaCityUK in Salford have decided to go. This is substantially more than was expected based on previous moves at the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ and in other companies.

The deadline for decisions was 30 April and 15 of the 32 managers have now told the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ they want to make the move to join the senior management team to be led by Peter Salmon, the Director of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ North.

Commenting after the decision deadline had passed Peter Salmon said: "I am pleased by the response we have had and the calibre of the people who will be coming on the journey to Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ North.

"The acceptance rate is higher than had initially been planned and I am told by the relocation experts that 47% is a high percentage for a move of this size.

"I also completely sympathise with some colleagues who have not been able to make the decision because I understand just what an enormous individual decision it is, particularly where partners' careers, children's schooling, and sometimes caring responsibilities are involved."

Senior Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ managers who will be working from Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ North in 2011 include Ben Gallop and Philip Bernie from Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Sport, Rhian Roberts from Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 5 Live and Michael Carrington and Joe Godwin from Children's.

Ben Gallop, who is Head of Interactive and Formula 1 for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Sport, said: "While it has been a big decision to relocate my family, I'm really looking forward to the challenges ahead to take Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Sport into a fully-digital, multi-platform future.

"We've seen the way audiences and technology have been changing in recent years and I'm excited by the opportunity that our new home in Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ North will offer."

Notes to Editors

The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is expected to begin moving into the new Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ North in a phased way during 2011, from around Easter onwards.

Other Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ staff whose roles are relocating to Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ North in 2011 will make their individual decisions during the course of 2009.

Departments relocating to Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ North at MediaCityUK in Salford are Children's, Sport, 5 Live, Learning and parts of Future, Media and Technology.

An estimated 1,400 roles will relocate from London. Around 800 staff currently based at Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Manchester will also move to the new Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ North in 2011.

Peter Salmon starts his role as Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Director North full time from 1 June 2009, while Richard Deverell, Head of Children's, has already been announced as the Chief Operating Officer for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ North.

Michael Carrington is Controller of CBeebies; Joe Godwin is Head of News, Factual and Entertainment, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Children's; Rhian Roberts is Head of Development, Radio 5 Live; Philip Bernie is Head of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ TV Sport.

Early indications, including the results from senior managers, show that a higher number of people than expected will decide to move to Salford.

Extensive efforts will be made by the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ to redeploy staff who are not able to make the move. In the event that redeployment is not possible, the individual may be offered redundancy when the move is finally made.

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Press Office