Rhodri Talfan Davies appointed Director, BBC Cymru Wales

The BBC has today appointed Rhodri Talfan Davies as Director, BBC Cymru Wales. 

The appointment concludes an extensive recruitment search that followed Menna Richards' departure from the post in February 2011. 

Rhodri Talfan Davies, currently Head of Strategy and Communications at BBC Wales, will report to the Director General, Mark Thompson, and join the BBC Direction Group (BDG) when he begins his new role in September.

He said: "I am thrilled and sincerely honoured to have been chosen for the role of Director. BBC Cymru Wales is of enormous importance to the creative and cultural life of the nation and is performing brilliantly on the UK networks too.

"There's a great wealth of talent in the creative industries in Wales and I feel privileged to have the opportunity to lead the fantastic team at BBC Wales."

BBC Director General Mark Thompson said: "Rhodri brings with him a wealth of experience across journalism, radio, and the development of new digital services. His deep understanding of Wales – and the BBC's crucial role in the nation's life – will equip him brilliantly for the challenge of leading such a successful and ambitious part of the organisation."

Born in Cardiff and a Welsh speaker, Rhodri has enjoyed a rich and varied career both within the BBC and externally. He began his career as a BBC regional television news producer and reporter in Newcastle, Manchester and London before being appointed Head of Regional and Local Programmes in BBC Bristol in 1999. 

In 2001, Rhodri was appointed Director of Television at Video Networks where he led the development of the UK's first on-demand television service, HomeChoice (now talk talk TV). In 2004 he was appointed Director of Television Marketing at ntl Telewest before returning to the BBC in 2006 as Head of Strategy and Communications at BBC Wales. Over the last six months, he has led the Digital workstream for Delivering Quality First.

Notes to Editors

As Director, Rhodri Talfan Davies will be responsible for BBC Cymru Wales' strategic direction. He will oversee all BBC Wales' services in English and Welsh – on radio, TV and online – including a staff of 1,200 people.

Over recent years, BBC Wales has also become a very successful centre of production for the BBC's TV networks including Doctor Who, Torchwood, Sherlock, Merlin, BBC Cardiff Singer of the World and BBC Young Musician of the Year. 

Later this year, BBC Wales will open a new, purpose-built drama production centre in Cardiff Bay to house its growing stable of drama productions. The Roath Lock studios will be home to Doctor Who, the BBC One series Casualty and Pobol y Cwm (the daily drama produced for the Welsh language channel, S4C). 

(Source : BBC Press Release)