Andy Conroy Email & Phone Number

London, United Kingdom

BBC R&D is a world-renowned function tasked with using technology to keep the BBC relevant in the medium term, next five to ten years. R&D comprised c220 staff, c£18m budget (FY16) with over 100 formal academic and industrial partners globallyResponsible for developing and then implementing BBC’s research strategy Reported to CTO, a Director on BBC ExecutiveMember of the Director General’s BBC Senior Leadership Team, drawn from from across the BBCMember of Design &… Show more BBC R&D is a world-renowned function tasked with using technology to keep the BBC relevant in the medium term, next five to ten years. R&D comprised c220 staff, c£18m budget (FY16) with over 100 formal academic and industrial partners globallyResponsible for developing and then implementing BBC’s research strategy Reported to CTO, a Director on BBC ExecutiveMember of the Director General’s BBC Senior Leadership Team, drawn from from across the BBCMember of Design & Engineering Board Member of several major BBC programme/project boards including those responsible for the re-organisation of the BBC’s technology teams (c3,000 strong team), London W12 Property portfolio and BBC intranet developmentRegular engagement with UK and European regulators and politicians Achievements- Secured BBC Board support for DCMS-mandated review of Corporation’s research activity 2007-17 including recommendations for assessing impact and future research strategyLed BBC Board-sponsored review of technology-led innovation across the BBCRe-focussed research portfolio on medium term with significant results in privacy, identity, 4K UHD, flexible media and sustainable engineering Overhauled portfolio and performance management processes including launch of new research programmes, introduction of OKRs Improved technology transfer into BBC including work with properties such as BBC1, Radio4, Dr Who, SpringWatch etLaunched major data research partnerships with six leading UK universitiesSecured BBC Board investment in new London-based facilities when broader estate was shrinkingImproved efficiency Sweated licencing and patent income streams to offset loss of European collaborative funding Improved both diversity of outlook of staff (FY17 33% of all new hires female)) and changing skill mix Mentored several colleagues from across BBC Successful switch to remote working (‘Labs without walls’) prompted by Covid in 2019 Significantly improved staff engagement performance Show less

COO reported directly to the Director, Future Media (FM) Operational responsibility to BBC Board for its interactive and on-demand services BBC Online (BBC News Online, iPlayer, CBBC etc) served about 35m UK users weekly (2015) and comprised c1500 staff across the BBC, c400 third party suppliers and c£180m investment (FY14) Direct editorial responsible for several pan-BBC services such BBC homepage (generating c1billion click-throughs annually), user moderation, and… Show more COO reported directly to the Director, Future Media (FM) Operational responsibility to BBC Board for its interactive and on-demand services BBC Online (BBC News Online, iPlayer, CBBC etc) served about 35m UK users weekly (2015) and comprised c1500 staff across the BBC, c400 third party suppliers and c£180m investment (FY14) Direct editorial responsible for several pan-BBC services such BBC homepage (generating c1billion click-throughs annually), user moderation, and interactive voting (Eg Strictly Come Dancing) Also responsible for ensuring BBC FM is effective and efficient with responsibility for all business management Includes governance functions, business HR and finance, internal communications, third-party contracting, risk and business continuity, H&S, the working environment BBC FM grew from c900 in FY11 to c1400 staff with a c£320m budget (FY14) Member of the Director General’s BBC Senior Leadership Team and the FM Group BoardMember of several major pan-BBC transformation programme boards Achievements Established effective engagement with BBC Trust on matters relating to BBC Online; created new simplified pan-BBC management controls to allow a more agile virtual organisation around BBC Online; established new accountability model for digital productsLed BBC Online digital transformation programme, one of the largest of its kind in BBC history, with over 95% of programme delivered on time and budgetLed project to relocate 700 roles from London to Salford; ramped up new talent pipeline improving staff diversity; improved efficiency of onboarding new staff;Enabled significant shift of investment initially into 2012 Olympics, iPlayer and Sounds; world with National Audit Office for some BBC reviewsOverhauled Internal communications BBC driving higher engagement around digital initiatives Member of Board that delivered critically-acclaimed London 2012 Olympics coverage with specific responsibility for business continuity Show less

Reported to Director, Future Media & Technology (FM&T)Responsible for the business management of BBC Online including portfolio management controls, engagement with government and regulatory bodies on behalf of BBC Online, developing strategy, budget management processes, performance management and third-party supplier relationships. Also lead c50 people editorial team which ran ‘shared’ parts of BBC online such as bbc.co.uk (7m page views per week, 2012), message boards… Show more Reported to Director, Future Media & Technology (FM&T)Responsible for the business management of BBC Online including portfolio management controls, engagement with government and regulatory bodies on behalf of BBC Online, developing strategy, budget management processes, performance management and third-party supplier relationships. Also lead c50 people editorial team which ran ‘shared’ parts of BBC online such as bbc.co.uk (7m page views per week, 2012), message boards and interactive votingMember of BBC Future Media & Technology Group Board Achievements Co-ordinated BBC Online responses to various DCMS and BBC Board reviews Devised planning and budgeting process for £130m ‘virtual business’Secured BBC Board approval for huge transformation programme of BBC Online - Simpler, much rationalised portfolio of services which remain broadly unchanged today - Proposed new operating model driving closer collaboration between editorial, technology, audience insight and marketing- Developed new shared targets for the business and leaders- c20% budget reduction Stabilised the relationship with c400 third-party suppliers Changed UK market rates for premium telephone services when overhauled BBC’s telephone voting for Strictly Come Dancing Played a leading role in persuading the BBC to separate the digital technology team ('FM') and broadcast technology team ('T') to enable each to focus on preparing for the London 2012 Olympics Show less

Reported to Controller, BBC Online Responsible for the effective running of the Controller, Online office. Particular focus on annual planning and budgeting process for c£130m businessAchievementsLead a joint Worldwide/Future Media & Technology initiative that resulted in BBC.com (global news website) becoming profitable for first time Proposed then established credible BBC activity in digital media literacy

Melbourne, Australia

Responsible for Lonely Planet's online P&L and, as senior BBC representative in LP headquarters, for ensuring smooth operational integration of Lonely Planet in Worldwide group. Line-managed c 175 staff based in Melbourne VIC AUS, London and Oakland CA USA Achievements- Senior BBC representative in Australia during Lonely Planet's acquisition so played a leading role in ensuring smooth and effective corporate integration- Led the digital transformation of the business… Show more Responsible for Lonely Planet's online P&L and, as senior BBC representative in LP headquarters, for ensuring smooth operational integration of Lonely Planet in Worldwide group. Line-managed c 175 staff based in Melbourne VIC AUS, London and Oakland CA USA Achievements- Senior BBC representative in Australia during Lonely Planet's acquisition so played a leading role in ensuring smooth and effective corporate integration- Led the digital transformation of the business, reflected in growth of digital revenue from 4% to 27% of total company revenue between 2007 and 2012 and value attributed to digital business when Lonely Planet sold by BBC in 2013- Launched several successful new products - Global launch partner for Apple iPhone - Introduced new working practices throughout the company (book production, cartography, warehousing, distribution, operations, sales, marketing, legal and finance) including the adoption of agile, product management, new author publishing tools, new visual identity - Resolved significant outstanding legal and policy issues relating to takeover - Won 2009 Webby Award for new digital product - Management Board member as company coped with huge revenue challenge in 2008 following ‘Global Finance Crisis’ Show less

Head of BBC interactive portfolio, responsible for co-ordinating the BBC's investment across online, interactive TV, and wireless platforms. Particular focus on delivering major programme of change including iPlayer BETA and BBC2.0.

Managing Editor, interactive for BBC Drama and Entertainment responsible for web, mobile and interactive TV product development for national brands such as EastEnders, Spooks, Celebdaq. Several BAFTA nominations for interactive programming. Also provided HR and finance operational management for c100-strong department.

Interim Global Operations Director responsible for product development for interactive TV games [including PlayJam] and information channels in USA, France and UK. Managed four production teams in London, Paris, Mountain View and Boston.

Responsible for succesful launch of five new products, which were developed and launched in different markets globally:- subscription website- magazine- online pay per view video- TV programming- b2b data services.

Board Director of small consultancy responsible for the day to day running of the company, shaping solutions, HR, finance etc.. The NC Company specialised in developed simple networked products for major corporates such as banks, media companies.

Member of management team for this BBCW/ICL JV which secured second round funding. Developed and then maintained a range of websites and interactive TV products for nationally known brands such as Top Gear, Radio Times.

Senior editorial and operational manager of over 175 full and part time staff, broadcasting news talk radio in 9 languages for 18 hours every day from two cities. Significant role in launch of BBC’s first ethnic minority radio station, BBC Asian Network. Commissioned new all-digital radio operation in Coventry. Multiple Sony Radio AWards for new formats and journalism.