BBC Worldwide's head of sales and business development of digital media, Peter Mercier, has left the company to join Microsoft. He becomes Microsoft's senior director of content acquisitions and strategy and will develop partnerships for its entertainment and devices division building relationships across Xbox, Windows Media Centre and mobile platforms. Mercier was head of mobile […]

The chairman of BBC Worldwide, Etienne de Villiers, is to step down at the end of the month after almost three years in the role. De Villiers, who served on ITV’s board as a non-executive director from 2004 to 2007, was appointed as chairman of the BBC’s commercial holdings board in September 2005 with a […]

Arqiva has confirmed the appointment of former UKTV Controller and COO John Keeling to the role of Platform Controller for its new VOD service. Keeling will be responsible for overseeing all programming and marketing functions including brand development and content supply. He will also be responsible for appointing key programming and marketing staff for the […]

NBC Universal has appointed Denise O’Donoghue, co-founder and former joint managing director of UK-based Hat Trick Productions, as head of its international production division. She has a brief to grow the business aggressively both organically and through acquisition.

Bridge Technologies, developers of the satellite-to-set-top box monitoring solution for IPTV operators, have announced that Tor Karstensen has joined the company as marketing and design executive. Karstensen will assume overall responsibility for the visual identity and branding of Bridge Technologies. Karstensen has a wide-ranging base of experience in visual branding and online presence development for […]

After two years as the head of the audio and music section of the BBC's future media and technology department, James Cridland is leaving. Cridland joined the BBC in 2007 as part of a round of appointments by the then head of BBC future media and technology, Ashley Highfield. He joined the BBC after serving […]

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, crumbling under the weight of a $3.7 billion loan, has ousted its CEO, Harry E. Sloan, in favour of the turnaround expert Stephen F. Cooper, who ran Enron during its bankruptcy. Once the most powerful studios in Hollywood, MGM has not released a movie since "Valkyrie" in December and will release only one film […]

News Corp has unveiled details of a shake-up of its Hong Kong-based Star television group as James Murdoch, chairman and chief executive for Europe and Asia, looks to cut costs and consolidate overlapping businesses in the region. About 150-200 jobs at Star are expected to go in the Hong Kong office over the next 12 […]

Cindy Rose is joining Virgin Media as executive director of television, where she will lead Virgin Media's strategy for TV, including development of its digital platform and market leading video-on-demand service. Rose was most recently as SVP & Managing Director, Disney Interactive Media Group (EMEA). Neil Berkett, chief executive officer of Virgin Media, said: "Cindy […]

NBC Universal Global Networks has appointed Paul Curtis to the new role of VP, commercial strategy, for its portfolio of UK channels including Sci Fi, Hallmark Channel, Movies 24 and Diva TV. Curtis, a former deputy MD of Sky's in-house sales arm Sky Media, will report to Laurence Dawkin-Jones, MD (UK) NBCU Global Networks. Curtis […]