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The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ has today appointed Rhodri Talfan Davies as Director, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Cymru Wales.

The appointment concludes an extensive recruitment search that followed Menna Richards' departure from the post in February 2011.

Rhodri Talfan Davies, currently Head of Strategy and Communications at ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Wales, will report to the Director General, Mark Thompson, and join the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Direction Group (BDG) when he begins his new role in September.

He said: "I am thrilled and sincerely honoured to have been chosen for the role of Director. ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Cymru Wales is of enormous importance to the creative and cultural life of the nation and is performing brilliantly on the UK networks too.

"There's a great wealth of talent in the creative industries in Wales and I feel privileged to have the opportunity to lead the fantastic team at ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Wales."

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Director General Mark Thompson said: "Rhodri brings with him a wealth of experience across journalism, radio, and the development of new digital services. His deep understanding of Wales – and the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's crucial role in the nation's life – will equip him brilliantly for the challenge of leading such a successful and ambitious part of the organisation."

Born in Cardiff and a Welsh speaker, Rhodri has enjoyed a rich and varied career both within the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ and externally. He began his career as a ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ regional television news producer and reporter in Newcastle, Manchester and London before being appointed Head of Regional and Local Programmes in ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Bristol in 1999.

In 2001, Rhodri was appointed Director of Television at Video Networks where he led the development of the UK's first on-demand television service, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖChoice (now talk talk TV). In 2004 he was appointed Director of Television Marketing at ntl Telewest before returning to the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ in 2006 as Head of Strategy and Communications at ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Wales. Over the last six months, he has led the Digital workstream for Delivering Quality First.

Notes to Editors

As Director, Rhodri Talfan Davies will be responsible for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Cymru Wales' strategic direction. He will oversee all ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Wales' services in English and Welsh – on radio, TV and online – including a staff of 1,200 people.

Over recent years, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Wales has also become a very successful centre of production for the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's TV networks including Doctor Who, Torchwood, Sherlock, Merlin, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Cardiff Singer of the World and ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Young Musician of the Year.

Later this year, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Wales will open a new, purpose-built drama production centre in Cardiff Bay to house its growing stable of drama productions. The Roath Lock studios will be home to Doctor Who, the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One series Casualty and Pobol y Cwm (the daily drama produced for the Welsh language channel, S4C).

AS