Jonathan Wall replaces Adrian Van Klaveran as head of Radio 5

Jonathan Wall has repaced Adrian Van Klaveran as controller of BBC Radio 5.

In November, Van Klaveren approved the Newsnight report which led to Lord McAlpine being wrongly identified as a paedophile.

In December, following publication of the Pollard review, the BBC announced that he had been moved to a "non news position". Last month it was announced that he has a new job as controller of BBC coverage around the centenary of the First World War.

Wall takes up his new post immediately.

Peter Salmon, director of BBC North, said: "Jonathan has shown enormous commitment to BBC Radio 5 live already and now earns the right to take on one of the best Controller roles in the BBC. He played a crucial role in the highly successful move of the station to Salford and helped build a talent roster and schedule that has just clocked up a record number of successive quarters of over six million listeners. More than anything, Jonathan has a passion for Radio 5 live's audience and I am certain he is going to make a superb station leader."

Wall began his career at BBC Radio Humberside before moving into BBC Sport. He later became editor, 5live Sport, before being appointed deputy controller and commissioning editor, 5 live, in July 2008.

He said: “It's a privilege to be given this opportunity – for me the best job in British radio. I inherit a station in good health after the successful move to Salford and the wonderful London 2012 coverage. We have the potential to build on all of that and grow even stronger. I want to wake up every day knowing we are delivering live radio that you don't hear anywhere else in the UK. We will look to make a bigger impact with our news journalism and continue to bring people together for major events off and on air. I have a wonderfully committed and supportive team to help achieve all this with and am looking forward to getting started."