Matthew Postgate appointed Chief Technology Officer to lead new division
The BBC has today announced that Matthew Postgate has been appointed to the position of Chief Technology Officer, leading a new division that will bring together BBC Digital, Engineering and BBC Worldwide technology teams.
Published: 22 December 2015
I am delighted to be taking on this role, helping to integrate the BBC’s digital and technology divisions and to make the BBC truly internet-fit for the future.
As previously announced, the new division will have a global remit, leading the BBC’s digital strategy and technology operations that keep the BBC on-air, online and operational. With immediate effect, Matthew will lead the project to create the combined group, and take over responsibility for the new division from April next year.
The CTO will initially report into the Managing Director Finance and Operations but will move to report to the Director General in 2016. and Matthew will be a member of Executive team. At some point during 2016 as the BBC restructures, the CTO will change reporting line to the Director General.
Matthew Postgate says: “I am delighted to be taking on this role at such an exciting time for the BBC, helping to integrate the BBC’s digital and technology divisions, and to make the BBC truly internet-fit for the future.”
Welcoming the appointment, Anne Bulford said: “Matthew is an outstanding leader and technologist who has been a key part of the BBC’s Digital and Engineering teams for the past 12 years. Matthew will help to build a BBC with digital at its heart, and I wish him every success in his new role.”
Matthew Postgate is currently leading the BBC’s Engineering division. Prior to his current role, Matthew was Controller, BBC Research & Development and a Director of YouView Ltd. He was part of the management team that launched BBC iPlayer and was in charge of BBC mobile, where he was responsible for building the corporation's world leading mobile services.
The merger of the BBC’s Digital, Engineering and Worldwide technology teams and the creation of this new role will result in the closure of the current CTO role leading BBC Engineering, as well as the role of Director, BBC Digital.
Notes to Editors
The merger of these divisions is part of the BBC’s ambitions to create an internet-fit organisation that is also a simpler, leaner BBC, as part of our drive to save £150m in costs across the organisation as a result of the iPlayer loophole. The shortfall has arisen because as more people use BBC iPlayer, mobiles and other online catch-up, the proportion of households owning a television is falling - while a loophole allows viewers to watch catch-up TV without a licence.
IW
