BBC Worldwide has promoted former director of television Deirdre Brennan (pictured) to general manager and director of channels and branded services for Australasia, effective immediately.

In the new role, she will oversee development of the local channel portfolio, which includes UKTV, UKTV NZ, BBC Knowledge, BBC Knowledge NZ and CBeebies; manage local operations for BBC World News and the channels’ non-linear services; and work on the roll out of the global BBC iPlayer.

Her first priorities are to hire a head of programming and production to oversee scheduling and commissioning for the portfolio.

Brennan joined BBC Worldwide Australia in August 2010 as director television, responsible for production, programming, acquisitions, on-air promotions and presentation for the local channel portfolio. She has commissioned several new shows, including The Kangaroo Gang and Free Rein (2011), Dripping in Chocolate (2012) and Top of the Lake (2013), and was key show for the BBC iPlayer launch in Australia.

Prior to working at BBCW, she was director of programming for Nickelodeon Australia and before that was a childrens’ programmer at ABC Australia.

Story provided by Kevin Ritchie at realscreen.com