Nations role for BBC NI Controller

Pat Loughrey has been BBC NI Controller since 1994

BBC Northern Ireland's Controller Pat Loughrey is to take up a new position as the corporation's Director of Nations and Regions.

In his new role, Donegal-born Mr Loughrey will have responsibility for all the BBC's programmes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and for all regional and local services in England. He will lead a staff of nearly 4,000 people.

During his six year tenure as BBC NI Controller, a string of successful network programmes including Ballykissangel, Amongst Women and Eureka Street were produced and broadcast to critical and public acclaim.

Radio Ulster and Radio Foyle both built up their audiences considerably and received a number of prestigious awards in that time.

Mr Loughrey described his appointment as "an enormous privilege and honour" but stressed he would be slow to break his links with Northern Ireland.

"I've spent my entire career in national and regional broadcasting.

"I rejoice in the diversity, the sense of place and close bonds with the community which we, perhaps uniquely, bring to the BBC."

Mr Loughrey will join the BBC's new Executive Committee, which was established by Director General Greg Dyke.

Mr Dyke said he was "delighted" that Mr Loughrey was taking on the role.

"He has been an inspirational leader of the BBC in Northern Ireland, developing terrific programmes and leading a news operation through a testing period with enormous wisdom and judgement."

He said local, regional and national services were an "essential part of the BBC's relationship with licence payers everywhere" and would have to be built on to take advantage of opportunities offered by digital technology and to respond to the challenges of devolution across the UK.