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³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Director of Nations and Regions Ken MacQuarrie has announced his intention to leave the corporation.

He will step down from his current role at the end of 2020, before leaving the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ next year.

Mr MacQuarrie, who was director of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Scotland from 2009 to 2016, has been with the organisation for 45 years.

New Director-General Tim Davie praised Mr MacQuarrie's "hard work, loyalty and commitment to public service broadcasting".

In an email to colleagues, Mr MacQuarrie said: "As the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ enters a new era the time is right for me to hand the reins over to someone new."

He described managing one of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's largest and most high profile divisions for the last four years as "a privilege and an honour".

"I've enjoyed working with you all to build nations and regions as a brilliantly confident and creative part of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ.

"We have many challenges to face, but I'm sure with all our hard work and determination the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ will flourish," he added.

Mr MacQuarrie joined the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ in 1975 as a researcher.

At ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Scotland, his posts included controller, head of programmes, head of features and head of Gaelic, features and children's.

Mr Davie, who has just taken over the role of director-general, said that during Mr MacQuarrie's time at the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ his "hard work, loyalty and commitment to public service broadcasting across the whole of the UK has remained constant".

He went on to say that he was a "visionary" director of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Scotland before he led the nations and regions division.

Mr Davie added: "His wise counsel to me personally, to the executive committee, and the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ board has been highly valued and very much appreciated by all of us.

"So often Ken has been the person that we have turned to in tough times for calm, insightful advice."