BBC Worldwide appoints Joel Churcher new Africa boss

BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the UK pubcaster, has hired Joel Churcher as vice president and general manager of its business in Africa.

The role is a new one at Worldwide and follows the reorganisation last year of the business along regional lines.

Based in Johannesburg, Churcher will be responsible for all BBC Worldwide businesses in the region, including TV and digital sales, production and format sales, licensing and publishing and live events.

In line with the company restructure, the new Africa boss will oversee channels as well as programming and will run the BBC branded channels in Africa, which are carried on pay TV platform DStv.

Churcher was previously an account director at Worldwide working in the company’s advertising sales business in the EMEA region. Prior to joining Worldwide he was senior international manager for advertising business IP Network.

In the new role he will report to Ian McDonough, BBC Worldwide’s executive VP for CEMA.

Churcher said: “Things are changing at a very fast pace in Africa, boasting six of the ten fastest growing economies in the world. I am very much looking forward to leading and developing our footprint on the continent and working with new business partners in new markets.”