Biographies

Chief Executive, BBC Worldwide

John Smith is Chief Executive of BBC Worldwide.

He took the helm of BBC Worldwide in July 2004 and was confirmed as Chief Executive in March 2005.

John is responsible for the strategic leadership and development of BBC Worldwide's seven businesses around the world: Channels, Sales & Distribution, Magazines, Home Entertainment, Content & Production, Digital Media and Global Brands.

BBC Worldwide (including Lonely Planet) currently has around 2,500 staff based in 22 offices around the world.

In December 2004 John refocused BBC Worldwide on profits and set a target to double PBIT (profit before interest and tax) by 2005/06. This target was achieved in 2006/07. In 2007/08 profit reached £118m on sales of £916m.

BBC Worldwide is continually set challenging targets in order to return the best value to both the BBC and the rights' holders it represents around the world. In 2008/09 the business will be making investments in new ventures to drive continued success over the coming years.

Prior to joining BBC Worldwide, John was the BBC's Chief Operating Officer, and, during an 18-year career at the BBC, his other senior executive roles included Director of Finance, Property & Business Affairs and Finance Director.

John sat on the BBC's Executive Board from 1996 to 2009.

In 2004 John also led the Commercial Review of all the BBC's commercial activities and was responsible for the sale of BBC Technology to Siemens Business Services, and the sale of BBC Broadcast (now known as Red Bee) to Creative Broadcast Services Limited, a Macquarie Company. He is currently overseeing the Sale of BBC Resources.

John is a Director of the Henley Festival. He is also Vice-President of the Royal Television Society.

He was a member of the Accounting Standards Board for three years until November 2004 and won the Accountancy Age Financial Director of the Year Award in 2001.