Sarnoff to replace Scannell at BBC America

BBC Worldwide is upping Ann Sarnoff to boss of its US operation.

She will replace Herb Scannell who is exiting after five years running BBC Worldwide North America, the US division of the commercial arm of UK pubcaster the BBC.

Sarnoff, who previously worked with Scannell when they were both at Viacom, steps up from COO and will run the channels, production and distribution business..

“As the media business continues to change at warp speed, Ann’s proven leadership coupled with her solid strategic and creative business sense will be a great asset to the company as she and the team move the business toward new heights,” said BBC Worldwide CEO Tim Davie.

Talking about his departure, Scannell said: “After five years, and with a strong leadership team in place, it feels like the right time for me to return to the entrepreneurial path I was on in digital media before I joined BBC Worldwide.”

He joined BBC Worldwide in 2010,having previously run Nickelodeon and held senior positions at MTV in the US.