BBC Worldwide has appointmented Joel Churcher as VP and general manager Africa, starting in April.
The role was created in line with the reorganisation of BBC Worldwide last year from divisional to geographic lines of management. It is the second general manager appointment for the CEMA region following the appointment of Jacek Koskowski in 2011 as VP and general manager Poland, based in Warsaw.
Based in Johannesburg, Joel will be responsible for strategy and business development across all BBC Worldwide businesses in the region, including TV and digital sales, production and format sales, licensing and publishing, Live Events and the daily management of the BBC branded channels portfolio available on DStv.
Joel takes up his new position after a tenure as Account Director for BBC Worldwide Channels across the EMEA region, steering the advertising sales business in markets such as Norway, Poland and Italy, and latterly as Advertising Sales Director where he is responsible for advertising sales on all BBC branded channels in Western Europe and within the CEMA region, including South Africa.
Prior to joining BBC Worldwide, Joel was Senior International Manager for IP Network, providing media solutions to large advertisers across the portfolio of terrestrial and digital channels within the RTL Group in 11 European markets.
Reporting into Ian McDonough, BBC Worldwide’s EVP for CEMA, Joel will work closely with the senior management team in London.
Ian McDonough said, “Joel is an outstanding executive who has a deep passion for our business in Africa. He is the right person to build on the successful BBC business we have already established in Africa and take it to the next level. ”
Commenting on his new role, Joel Churcher added “I am extremely excited about taking up this role. Things are changing at a very fast pace in Africa, boasting six of the ten fastest growing economies in the world. I am sure that working in such a fast paced and vibrant continent will be an incredible adventure. I am very much looking forward to leading and developing our footprint on the continent and working with new business partners in new markets.”
