MUMBAI: The BBC has appointed Leigh Tavaziva as group chief operating officer.

Tavaziva takes up her role on 1 February 2021. She will be responsible for critical functions including design and engineering, finance, legal, commercial rights and business affairs, quality, risk and assurance, and procurement. She will join both the BBC’s executive committee and the BBC board, reporting to director-general Tim Davie.

Tavaziva’s previous roles have included managing director of customer operations at British Gas and group director of strategy and transformation at Centrica.

Tim Davie says: “This is an important appointment for the BBC as we look to become even more efficient and offer greater value to every licence fee payer. Leigh has an extremely impressive track record of leading change, driving efficiency and helping big organisations simplify to realise their full potential. We are very pleased that she will be joining us at the BBC in the New Year.”

Leigh Tavaziva said, “The BBC plays an incredibly important role at home and abroad. I have huge respect for the organisation and look forward to playing my part in ensuring its continued success in a fast-changing world.”