Laura Ellis, BBC South East’s head of regional and local programmes, is leaving to become chief assistant to the controller of English regions, Andy Griffee.
Ellis, who was in the position for four years, will take up her new role when she returns from maternity leave at the beginning of April.
She was in charge of regional programming when veteran news anchor Laurie Mayer accused the broadcaster of cultivating a “culture of intimidation” at the Tunbridge Wells newsroom, which led to an industrial tribunal hearing last year.
Mayer had directed his accusations at Ellis, output editor Rod Beard and his fiancée and assistant editor Davina Reynolds. The ruling also found there was there was “a culture of bullying and harassment”, but Mayer lost his claim for unfair dismissal and has since appealed.
Ellis will be replaced at BBC South East by Leo Devine, the head of regional and local programmes at BBC South West for the past five years, leaving a vacancy at the Plymouthbased regional headquarters.
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