BBC Scotland controller to retire

John McCormick will retire in April

The controller of BBC Scotland, John McCormick, has announced that he will retire in April.

The 59-year-old has been in charge at Queen Margaret Drive for 12 years and has worked for the BBC for 34 years.

He has presided over unprecedented growth at BBC Scotland, which has increased its annual turnover by £110m.

The BBC's director general, Greg Dyke, paid tribute to Mr McCormick's "outstanding achievements throughout an outstanding career".

The corporation said that the search for his successor would begin immediately.

Mr McCormick said he had enjoyed his "exhilarating" 12 years in the post.

He has been the driving force behind more than a decade of unprecedented expansion in the BBC's production and programming base Greg Dyke Director general

"Just before Christmas we formally lodged our planning application for BBC Scotland's new Broadcasting Centre at Pacific Quay in Glasgow," he said.

"This new site offers a new vision for BBC Scotland and the lodging of the plans also represents a significant milestone for me personally.

"This is the ideal moment to make way for my successor, to lead BBC Scotland through the changes that will take us into the new building in 2007."

Mr Dyke said Mr McCormick had been "at the very heart" of the BBC for the past two decades, in both Scotland and London.

"As controller of BBC Scotland, he has been the driving force behind more than a decade of unprecedented expansion in the BBC's production and programming base and has seen the affection and respect in which the BBC is held in Scotland grow to new levels.

"I salute his outstanding achievements throughout an outstanding career and wish him every success in the future," he said.