Sam Taylor becomes controller of BBC News Channel
BBC News mainstay Sam Taylor has today been appointed controller of the BBC News Channel and BBC News at One.
The 37-year-old joined the BBC as a news trainee in 1997 and rose to become editor of BBC News at One and editor of BBC Newswire, the corporation's multimedia internal news service.
He has helped shape the BBC's coverage of some of the biggest stories of recent years, including 7/7 and the London Olympic bid, and has most recently been responsible for the design and delivery of the BBC's plan to move its newsrooms from Television Centre and Bush House into one building at New Broadcasting House.
Mary Hockaday, head of the BBC Newsroom, said: "This was a competition with high quality candidates. Sam won out because he has great news judgement in line with BBC News editorial values and a real sense of the channel’s strengths and how to build on them. He takes a creative approach to leadership combined with great integrity.
"A real track record in covering hard news takes nerves of steel. Having clear strategic vision and knowledge of the new media landscape takes intellect and editorial flair. Sam combines all these qualities. He is a creative leader with his feet on the ground.''
Helen Boaden, director of BBC News Group, added that Taylor's "creative flair, digital savvy and editorial experience" make him the "ideal" controller.
The BBC News Channel reaches 9.3m adults a week in the UK and will move to its new state-of-the-art studios in early 2013.
Taylor said: "The BBC News Channel has been part of my life since its launch 15 years ago.
"I’m looking forward to taking the channel and its very strong team into New Broadcasting House where not only will we have a fantastic new studio, we will also be able to work even more closely with colleagues across the BBC – and ensure that our audience gets the very best live, breaking and developing journalism, wherever and whenever they want it.”
Taylor takes up the new role later this month.