The BBC has signed senior ITV News journalist Penny Marshall to the newly created role of education editor and has also announced that chief economics correspondent Hugh Pym is moving to become health editor.
Marshall has been with ITN since joining as a graduate trainee 29 years ago and has won Emmy, Bafta and RTS awards. She is currently ITV News's social affairs editor.
She said of the new BBC education editor role: "I think the creation of this post rightly puts the issue of education at the heart of the domestic news agenda at a critical time of change."
Hugh Pym, who moves to the new role of health editor, started his BBC career as a radio reporter and has been chief economics correspondent for the past four years. He covered for economics editor Stephanie Flanders during her maternity leave.
He said: "I grew up close to the NHS as my late father was a GP in a West Country town and I have always admired the hard-work and commitment of health staff.
"The future shape and direction of the NHS, with financial and demographic pressures, is one of the major issues of our time. I look forward to covering this agenda along with important new developments in patient care and research."
The corporation said both Pym and Marshall would work with correspondents "to increase the number of BBC scoops in these areas, while bringing their expert analysis and understanding to the reporting on TV, radio and online".
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