The BBC has appointed journalist and editorial leader Hayley Valentine as its new Director in Scotland, succeeding Steve Carson in the role.
Since joining the BBC in 1996, Valentine has been Executive Producer of BBC Question Time, Director of Current Affairs at Mentorn, Head of News at Radio 5 Live, Head of the BBC Radio newsroom and the launch editor of BBC Scotland’s Nine news programme. She is currently head of BBC Midlands in Birmingham.
Tim Davie, the BBC’s Director-General, says: “Hayley is a proven creative leader with a passionate commitment to serving audiences across Scotland. I know she is determined to build on BBC Scotland’s editorial success – strengthening its online services and working with partners right across the sector to ensure Scotland packs a creative punch not just at home, but internationally too.”
Hayley Valentine says: “There is a wealth of first-class creative talent in Scotland within the BBC and across the wider sector. I am looking forward to working with them all to create the highest quality content for our audiences in Scotland, and to represent Scotland to audiences across the UK and beyond. I really can’t wait to get started”.
A graduate of Edinburgh University, Valentine worked as a journalist at DC Thomson and Radio Forth before joining the BBC.
Valentine will lead the development of a wide range content and services for audiences in Scotland across television, radio and online – which includes BBC Reporting Scotland, Sportscene, Disclosure, BBC Radio Scotland, the BBC Scotland channel, and the work of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
Steve Carson said in July that he would stand down in the autumn, ahead of taking up a new position in Dublin with the Republic of Ireland’s public service broadcaster, RTÉ.
Valentine will take up the new post in early November.
Pippa Considine
Share this story
