Kevin Bakhurst joined the BBC in 1989 as assistant producer

The move is part of a revamp for the corporation's TV news by its head, Peter Horrocks.

Amanda Farnsworth, who is the Six O'Clock News editor, is getting the new role of editor, Daytime, which covers both the one and six o'clock bulletins.

Helen Boaden, Director of BBC News, said Mr Bakhurst would take on "a key creative and strategic role."

"I'm delighted that Kevin is the channel's first controller," she added.

BBC News 24 was previously run by an editorial director, a lower-ranked post which will now disappear, along with the indvidual roles of editing the One O'Clock News and Six O'Clock News.

Amanda Farnsworth became a BBC news trainee in 1986

The revamp is aimed at ensuring the BBC shares its edited news material more widely among its bulletins and News 24, so stories are broadcast as quickly as possible.

Mr Horrocks said in November that the corporation needs to be "in good shape to embrace new technologies and new audience needs".

The BBC said it will explore possibilities of redeployment within the division for News 24 editorial director Mark Popescu and One O'Clock News editor Chris Rybczynski.

Mr Horrocks added that Mr Bakhurst "will bring his incisive editorial and organisational skills to help News 24 grow even further".

New daytime head Ms Farnsworth "will bring creative imagination and a strong understanding of the strategic future direction of News to this crucial role", he said.

Both of them will take up their new roles in the new year and the post of editor for the Ten O'Clock News will be advertised.