BT TV has named Delia Bushell as its new managing director of BT TV and Sport. The appointment follows the sudden departure of chief executive Marc Watson.
Bushell, who joins in July, has spent the past fourteen years at BSkyB and Sky Italia in a variety of roles. She was director of broadband and telephony at BSkyB from 2006 to 2011, taking its new broadband service from launch to more than 3.5m subscribers. Prior to that she was Managing Director, Sky Ireland, doubling Sky’s subscription growth rate in the Irish Republic over 2005-6.
Earlier in her career, Bushell spent three years as director of commercial affairs for Sky Networks. In this role she defined the strategy and launch plans for Sky’s Freeview channels as well as directing all commercial activity around Sky One.
Bushell will report into John Petter, BT Consumer Chief Executive, and have responsibility for both BT TV and BT Sport. She will set the long term strategy for both services, ensuring they enhance BT’s broadband business and help BT Consumer in its drive to achieve top and bottom line growth.
Commenting on her appointment, Bushell said: “BT is shaking up the UK TV market and I am thrilled to be joining at such an exciting time. Sport may have grabbed the headlines recently but the opportunity is far broader and I look forward to working with the team to build on the successes to date.”
Bushell is 41 years old and married, with three daughters. She has an MA in History and a MPhil in International Relations, both from the University of Oxford.