BBC Website Cuts 50% Of Staff

BBC Worldwide’s e-commerce portal, Beeb.com, is cutting 40 jobs as part of the restructure that has seen CEO Julian Turner step down after just 18 months in the role.

The job cuts come as part of a final phase of restructuring at the e-commerce site, which has been ongoing since Turner joined in September 2000. CEO of BBC Worldwide and chairman of Beeb Ventures Limited, Rupert Gavin, will assume Turner’s strategic responsibilities, whilst the day to day running of the business will be handled by Beeb.com’s COO, Kym Niblock.

Turner said: “I have moved beeb along way since taking over in 2000. As a result the company now operates against a dramatically more efficient business model, having made significant investment in the technology platform to enable smooth transition to a lower cost base.”

Commenting on the job cuts, Gavin said: “We will be talking to staff in depth about the restructure over the next few weeks.”

Beeb.com is part of Beeb Ventures, which was formed in 1997 as a joint venture between the BBC’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide and US-based technology investor TH Lee Putnam Ventures.

Beeb Ventures: 020 8433 1310 www.beeb.com

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