BBC has announced Cheryl Taylor, controller for comedy commissioning since 2009 at the Beeb, will be taking the top spot at CBBC, leading the UK channel targeting kids six to 11 as controller.

Taylor, who has commissioned BBC comedies such as Twenty Twelve and Miranda, replaces former controller Damian Kavanagh, who moved over to commercial broadcaster Channel 4 earlier this year.

Prior to taking the post of controller in 2009, she served a four-year stint as the BBC’s executive editor of out of London comedy commissioning, where she developed and commissioned original comedy series including Life Of Riley, Sunshine and Wallace And Gromit – A Matter Of Loaf And Death.

She joined the BBC from prodco Hat Trick productions, where she was head of comedy.

The move comes as all kids content from BBC1 and BBC2 will migrate to digital channels CBBC and CBeebies as part of the BBC’s digital switchover strategy and plan to cut 20% of its costs by 2017.

Taylor will continue to work from BBC’s Salford offices in her new role.