Craig Oliver has been appointed as the new Downing Street head of communications ten months after he was made controller of BBC Global News’ English services.
The announcement comes the day after former News of the Word editor Andy Coulson left the role after he was forced out by continuing coverage of the phone-hacking scandal.
Oliver, 41, studied at St Andrews University before entering the media. He has worked for Channel 4 News, was head of output at ITV News between 2002 and 2006 and since joining the BBC he has been editor of the News and Ten, News at Six and was general election editor in 2010.
He went to comprehensive school in Scotland and has three daughters with his newsreader wife Joanna Gosling.
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Prime Minister David Cameron Cameron said: “I am very pleased that Craig Oliver is to become the new Director of Communications at 10 Downing Street.
“Craig has formidable experience as a broadcast journalist. He will do an excellent job in explaining and communicating the Government’s programme.”
Oliver said: “I’m delighted to be joining David Cameron and his team at such an exciting and challenging time.
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“It’s difficult to leave the BBC after a fascinating few years – but this is an opportunity I can’t turn down.”
BBC Global News includes the World Service, which is facing deep cutbacks as a result of the Coalition Government’s cost-cutting programme.
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