Lock out

Radio Today has a lengthy email from BBC Director of Radio & Education James Purnell explaining why launch director Charlotte Lock won't be the first Controller BBC Sounds.

It seems that sorting the app's long-term future requires residence in London, which flies in the face of various BBC employment strategies. 

“I respect Charlotte’s reasons for opting out of this next phase for Sounds, and with her agreement, I want to share that context with you. I persuaded Charlotte to move from her role as Director of M&A for R&E and Content to lead the launch phase of Sounds, knowing that meant typically travelling 20 hours each week back and forth from her home in the North of England.

“Charlotte has been clear that the next phase of Sounds needs visible and hands-on leadership in London and cannot be done remotely – a commitment that unfortunately, Charlotte can’t make long-term with a young family and home in the North."

Mr Purnell, who may be the only BBC exec working this half-term, now has three Controller jobs up his sleeve. Controller BBC ('not optimised for co-ordination') Sounds, Controller Music and Controller Radio 4. What will the gender, diversity and class balance be of this new Praetorian Guard ?