BBC Worldwide has appointed Luke Bradley-Jones, the head of its digital operations in the US, as the new managing director of BBC.com.
Bradley-Jones, who has held the New York-based role of executive vice-president of digital media and business development for BBC Worldwide for the past two years, replaces Kym Niblock, who is leaving the corporation after nine years.
He takes the official title of executive vice-president, managing director of BBC.com, the international version of the corporation's website run by BBC Worldwide.
"Having led our digital ventures in the US for the past two years, Luke is the natural candidate to take over the reins at BBC.com, especially as we work towards the site's first localised edition in the US next year," said David Moody, director of strategy and managing director of digital media at BBC Worldwide.
BBC.com claims that it has signed up more than 400 advertisers in the 18 months since BBC.com was opened to online advertising for the first time.
"I'm looking forward to building on this success as we look to introduce significant new products and services for international audiences and advertisers in the next year," said Bradley-Jones.
Bradley-Jones joined BBC Worldwide, the corporation's commercial arm, in 2006 as head of strategy after seven years at media and telecommunications consultancy Spectrum Strategy Consultants.
On moving to the New York office in 2007, to set up BBC Worldwide's US digital business, he oversaw BBC.com and the corporation's wider online, mobile and cable video-on-demand business. This included deals with Apple, Xbox and Yahoo as well as launching the US version of Top Gear's website and relaunching BBCAmerica.com.
Niblock was responsible for handling the controversial roll-out of adverts on the BBC.com international news website in late 2007. Niblock joined the BBC from Nickelodeon, where she was deputy managing director, in 2000 as chief operating officer of BBC Worldwide's internet division Beeb Ventures.
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