Mary Hockaday is the BBC’s new deputy head of radio news, a new post working across the whole of radio news.
Hockaday (pictured) is currently BBC radio’s editor of World Service news and current affairs.
The move follows the appointment of Ceri Thomas as editor of Radio 4’s Today programme. Thomas and Hockaday have both deputised for Stephen Mitchell, head of radio news, covering domestic and world affairs respectively.
Mitchell said: "Mary has significant editorial experience both in the field and on programmes on World Service and Radio 4.
"I am very confident that she will now help us to transform the way we deliver our journalism across the board in the light of the major changes that are affecting our audiences and the wider BBC."
Part of Hockaday’s new role will be to further enhance coverage of foreign affairs across the department. She begins the new job at the end of the month. The BBC will now seek to appoint a new editor of World Service news and current affairs, as well as a radio newsgathering editor, to replace Thomas.
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