Bbc’s Mosey To Head Up 2012 Coverage

Roger Mosey is to step down as the BBC’s director of sport to take over a new post leading the broadcaster’s remit for the London 2012 Olympics.

Mosey will take on the new job of BBC director of London 2012, overseeing the corporation’s sport and cultural plans for what will be the biggest event the UK has ever hosted – and the biggest ever BBC production.

The BBC director general, Mark Thompson, said: ‘London 2012 is one of the biggest events in the UK to be held in our lifetimes and requires all our focus and energy.

‘Now is the right time to take this important step in the BBC’s planning for this momentous year. I witnessed first hand in Beijing what is required to successfully deliver such a major broadcasting event, and we all saw the outstanding coverage by the BBC.

‘I believe Roger Mosey is ideally placed to fulfill such a challenging and important new role.’

Mosey, who will step down as director of sport once a replacement has been appointed, oversaw the BBC’s hugely successful coverage of the Beijing games last month.

In his new role, as well as dealing with the BBC’s own preparations for 2012, he will also lead the corporation’s relationship with external bodies such as the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG).

Mosey, who has been director of sport since August 2005, has had a number of high-profile roles within the BBC – he has been editor of Radio 4’s Today programme, controller of BBC Radio 5 Live and head of BBC television news.

In his new role, he will report to the deputy director general, Mark Byford, who is chairman of the BBC-wide London 2012 steering group.

The change of role will mean Mosey will not move with the rest of the sport department to its new home in Salford in 2011.

A small team, thought to be around 20 to 30 people, will stay in the capital to oversee preparations.

BBC Sport’s head of events, Dave Gordon, who coordinated the Beijing coverage, has also been confirmed in the role for the London Games.

Gordon will be a panellist at this year’s FT Sport Industry Summit on 4th November.