His role as director will be to lead one of the corporation‘s great content and broadcasting areas for one of its crucial audiences, serving kids throughout the UK.

Godwin is expected to take up the post in November 2009, replacing Richard Deverell, who moves up to be BBC North COO. He will be based in Salford Quays as part of the move of Children‘s to BBC North in 2011.

CBBC controller Damian Kavanagh and CBeebies controller Michael Carrington remain responsible for all content on their channels and websites and report to Godwin.

Says BBC Vision director Jana Bennett, "The BBC‘s children‘s services are the cornerstone of the BBC and Joe Godwin‘s 20 years of experience working in children‘s media makes him the ideal candidate to build on the reputation of BBC Children‘s and lead the team to its new home as the creative heart of BBC North."