BBC future media and technology director Ashley Highfield is quitting to become CEO of Project Kangaroo - an upcoming online TV JV between ITV (LSE: ITV), Channel 4 and the BBC’s profit-making BBC Worldwide wing - marking a return to the commercial sector after eight years. He will replace interim CEO Lesley MacKenzie.

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A former Flextech and NBC boss, Highfield’s pet BBC projects have included the £131 million ($262 million) programme to digitize production and multiplatform output - notably the controversial but successful iPlayer brand. A commercial alternative led by the BBC’s revenue-making wing, Kangaroo will offer programming outside iPlayer’s one-week public service window and will, therefore, use both pay-for and ad-supported models.

Highfield has previously grumbled about the slow regulatory approval required for new BBC services. His departure will open a vacuum atop the BBC’s new media activities, but future media and technology controller Erik Huggers, whom Highfield appointed future media and technology controller 11 months ago from Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT), is well placed to take over.

More details at our sister site paidContent:UK...