BBC Worldwide has announced it is restructuring its advertising sales arm. Under the restructure, BBC Worldwide’s ad funded media assets will be partially decentralised as its wholly owned local channel businesses are migrated into the company’s regions, and it moves these businesses into regional P&Ls.

The units that will remain centralised and based out of London are global advertising sales for BBC World News, BBC.com and BBC World Service, and for external clients such as Lonely Planet and Viki.com in international markets. Carolyn Gibson will lead the function in the new position of EVP International Advertising Sales, reporting to Herb Scannell, President, BBC Worldwide America, from April 2. She will be responsible for setting strategies and overseeing BBC Worldwide’s key clients that conduct business on an international and global basis.

This news comes alongside the recent announcement of the departure of Chris Dobson, Executive Vice President & General Manager of BBC Advertising, from BBC Worldwide. 

Additionally, Sunita Rajan, currently SVP, Advertising Sales, Asia, will become EVP and adds responsibility for BBC.com and Lonely Planet advertising sales activities in Australia, reporting to Gibson and working with the Regional EVP/MD. Mark Gall, EVP Advertising Sales, U.S. & Canada will also add responsibility for Latin America to his remit for the same assets. Gall will work with the Regional EVP in Latin America and with Carolyn for News elements. This group, along with other key executives in finance and business strategy, will operate the Global Ad Sales Council with Herb Scannell as Head.

Herb Scannell said, “These moves are designed to ensure we can best serve our clients in market and become even more responsive to local advertiser needs. I would like to thank Chris for his considerable contribution to the BBC over the past five years and thank Carolyn in leading the charge in News and our international client businesses that we represent, and Mark and Sunita for taking on new responsibilities.”