Disambiguation

Congratulations to Helen Thomas, appointed BBC Director of England.

This is not the Helen Thomas who is Business Correspondent for Newsnight, nor the Helen Thomas who is called 'Network Editor' for Radio 2, nor the Helen Thomas who is a producer in BBC Studios Science Unit.

Helen (Dinnington Comprehensive and BA Management, Bradford College) has recently been working on the 're-invention of BBC Local Radio' (though we've yet to see the results), and takes the role filled by David Holdsworth, (who used to be called Controller English Regions, and found time to review Carrie Gracie's pay).

Helen started in journalism as a trainee reporter with Radio Aire in the early 80s, coming to BBC York in 1985. After a spell in commercial radio, she returned the BBC in 1999, and has held management roles across Yorkshire, Humberside and Lincolnshire. She's had to deal with the departure of Look North presenter Christa Ackroyd - her boss back at Radio Aire.