View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Publishers
  2. Broadcast Journalism
April 30, 2014updated 23 Aug 2022 6:44pm

New North American editor appointed in BBC News senior shake-up

By Oliver Jones

BBC newsreader Jon Sopel (pictured, right) has been appointed North American editor of BBC News in what the corporation has described as "a major 'musical chairs' moment". 

Sopel will replace Mark Mardell, who is to move to BBC Radio 4 to become the presenter of The World This Weekend and The World at One on Fridays, taking over from Shaun Ley.

Ley will remain as part of the Radio 4 team, but will feature more on television news output such as Hardtalk. He will also present for BBC World TV and World Service radio.  

Meanwhile, Kayta Adler (pictured, left) has been appointed as Europe editor, replacing Gavin Hewitt, who was made BBC News chief correspondent last month. 

Ian Pannell (pictured, centre) has also been made international correspondent "in recognition of his award-winning coverage of global affairs", said a BBC spokeswoman.

The editor of The World at One and The World This Weekend, Nick Sutton, said: "Mardell arrives at a time when the programmes are editorially strong with record audiences.

"I'm sure listeners will appreciate the many years of forensic and analytical reporting from Westminster, Europe and the United States that Mark brings with him."

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Mardell said: "I am delighted and very excited to be presenting one of Radio 4’s most important news programmes helping define both the British political conversation and reporting on the huge changes going in the world."

"What is decided in Washington affects the whole world, and it will be a great challenge to report on the workings of the White House and Congress – and of course following the next presidential election," said Sopel. 

Adler, who will be based in Brussels, speaks Italian, Spanish, German and French and has previously worked in the Middle East and Madrid. She said: "With the prospect of a UK referendum on EU membership and an increasing sense of euro-scepticism across the continent, this is a defining moment for the future of Europe."

Pannell added: "It is a chance to provide engaging and meaningful first-hand reporting from America and around the globe that goes beyond the headlines.

"The challenge is to enhance our understanding of a changing and sometimes unstable world to audiences in Britain and beyond."

 

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network