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To the BBC

Posted on Thursday, May 3rd, 2007 at 11:06am. #

Broadcast announcement

Today’s edition of ‘Broadcast’ appears to have pipped me to my own blog exclusive; I’m leaving Virgin Radio after six splendid years, and going to work for the BBC, as Head of Future Media & Technology, Audio & Music, for FM&T. It’s a massive change for me, and a thrill to work with such a great team.

And any company corporation that has blogging guidelines for staff is okay by me.

—update @ 4.55pm—

In case you’re looking for an official statement:

This is the official BBC press release with some embarrassing details of my early career

This is my real quote (I wrote this for Radio Today who were kind enough to ask):

“I’ve had a great time at Virgin Radio, and am hugely proud of what my team has achieved. We’ve pioneered the online radio environment with a bunch of new innovations. It’s a tremendous brand with a great future, and I’m gutted about leaving so many good friends.

“However, I’m thrilled about moving to the BBC: there are some tremendously clever people there, and it will be great to continue working for an organisation recognised as a world-leader.”

This is what my nice current boss is saying:

Paul Jackson, Chief Executive of Virgin Radio, said of James’ departure: “It’s testament to the achievements of Virgin Radio and the strength of the station’s rapid digital media development over the last few years that James Cridland has secured such a prestigious new role at the BBC. We thank him for all his work over the past six years and wish him all the best for the future. We are now looking for an energetic, innovative, new digital radio pioneer to replace him.”

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37 comments

Nick Piggott said at May 3rd, 2007 at 11:07am

Congratulations on the exciting new job, and it’s a loss to the commercial radio industry. Darn it.

Matt said at May 3rd, 2007 at 11:07am

Congratulations on your new role!

Paul Easton said at May 3rd, 2007 at 11:13am

Well done, James.

Robert Price said at May 3rd, 2007 at 12:17pm

Congratulations, and enjoy your new role!

Lewis said at May 3rd, 2007 at 12:30pm

Congratulations, very exciting for the BBC! - best of luck in your new role.

Tim Carr said at May 3rd, 2007 at 12:45pm

Congrats James!

James Welsh said at May 3rd, 2007 at 1:06pm

Many congratulations James!

Mike Butcher said at May 3rd, 2007 at 1:38pm

Well done. How come you didn’t tell me yesterday when I saw you?!

Nick Reynolds (BBC) said at May 3rd, 2007 at 2:22pm

Welcome to the BBC. I drafted the Guidelines (with a lot of help from BBC bloggers), so it’s nice to see you’ve noticed them! I’m also working at the moment at Audio and Music Interactive, so I think I’d better add you to my Google reader!

Matt Cashmore said at May 3rd, 2007 at 2:25pm

Welcome to the throng old bean! Congratulations :-)

Alistair MacDonald said at May 3rd, 2007 at 2:47pm

Many congratulations. A good move for the BBC Audio and Music, but a loss for Virgin Radio.

Christopher Elkins said at May 3rd, 2007 at 3:06pm

All the best, James! Keep up the good work.

Alan Connor said at May 3rd, 2007 at 3:58pm

This could be fun… congratulations :)

Martin Deutsch said at May 3rd, 2007 at 4:02pm

Congratulations! You’re going to need a pretty big business card with a title like that. So are you going to be joining the bright, breezy world of the Media Centre?

Frankie Roberto said at May 3rd, 2007 at 4:03pm

Congrats!

William T said at May 3rd, 2007 at 6:33pm

Well done etc. etc. I hope this means you can still talk freely about things! And I hope the bureaucracy isn’t as bad as people often claim it is.

Given your role is described as ‘pan-BBC’, it’d be great to see you introduce one or two ideas at the local radio level (the BBC has 40 English local radio stations after all, and they are the direct contact point with the audience) which then, if successful, work themselves up through the food chain. Usually its the other way round at BBC LR are the last to benefit.

Adam Lynch said at May 3rd, 2007 at 6:38pm

Well done James, thats really good news!

Olly said at May 3rd, 2007 at 8:42pm

Hi James, That’s brilliant news. Really chuffed for you. I’m sure you’ll find it a really brilliant and exciting place to work. Olly

Ben Metcalfe said at May 3rd, 2007 at 8:43pm

I hope you know what you’re letting yourself in for :)

Congrats

Martin Belam said at May 3rd, 2007 at 9:23pm

Does that mean it is my turn to play the “Well, in the *real* world, where we have to *earn* our revenue” card ;-)

Congratulations, I hope you enjoy it.

Ali McLaren said at May 3rd, 2007 at 9:47pm

Congratulations, James. Look forward to seeing where you drive the BBC New Media team.

Trixie said at May 4th, 2007 at 12:23am

Wow. Congratulations!

Dave Raven said at May 4th, 2007 at 7:49am

Well done James. It’s 7 years since we talked on BFBS on how your MediaUK site had become the most visited media site in the UK and I have watched your profile & career rise since then. There are some powerful names in your team.

Jimmy Buckland said at May 4th, 2007 at 8:49am

Congrats James! Commercial radio’s loss for sure. Presumably you’ll still be at every industry do you can lay your hands on though?

Ian Deeley said at May 4th, 2007 at 1:17pm

Well done James and welcome to our glamourous surrounds in White City!
Now if you could just get the multicasting going on Listen Live…..

Paul Kenton said at May 4th, 2007 at 2:58pm

What a brilliant move James. Congratulations!

links for 2007-05-04 « Social Media Report said at May 4th, 2007 at 3:23pm

[...] To the BBC - blog - James Cridland “’m leaving Virgin Radio after six splendid years, and going to work for the BBC, as Head of Future Media & Technology, Audio & Music, for FM&T” [...]

Elliot Reeves said at May 4th, 2007 at 5:17pm

Completely deserved, Congratulations James! Look forward to hearing where radio/the media is heading, very exciting. Plus I might attend mediauk’s dooo (just to say hi/congrats again, not drink all your beer-money), don’t worry, i’ll opt up if I am.

Mike Redding said at May 5th, 2007 at 8:38am

Congratulations James, i hope it all goes well for you :)

Doc McGlock said at May 5th, 2007 at 2:23pm

Congratulations James ;)

John Hirst said at May 6th, 2007 at 12:28pm

Who from Virgin will buy me drinks at every international conference? Well done James, and there was me expecting you due at Leicester Square!

Paul Smith said at May 6th, 2007 at 3:52pm

If I could pop in and say hello, I’d shake your hand and drink your coffee.

Well done mister.

Ashley Elford said at May 7th, 2007 at 11:47am

Great stuff James, have fun!

Peter Childs said at May 7th, 2007 at 11:39pm

Congratulations!

Means everyone will have to run even faster to catch up to the BBC.

anna cassar said at May 10th, 2007 at 9:14pm

I hope you’re still a fan of our newsletter http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/newsletter/ now you’ve joined our happy band.

best wishes for your new job.

Anna

Paul B. Walker, Jr. said at June 18th, 2007 at 9:49am

Way to go on the new job! Good luck, enjoy yourself and don’t work too hard lol!

Stilla said at June 18th, 2007 at 10:13pm

Anna Cassar:

Are you the Anna who remembers Gozo…many moons ago?
Swimming in a cave?
Running to catch the sunrise?

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