Biographies

Chief Operating Officer, BBC Worldwide

Sarah Cooper is the Chief Operating Officer of BBC Worldwide and the Deputy CEO.

She leads a team responsible for executing the negotiation of all major acquisitions, joint ventures and partnerships on the company's behalf; is responsible for the provision of legal expertise and deal-making across the BBC Worldwide Group as well as regulatory and compliance matters.

She leads the company's acquisition of rights across all media platforms as well as being responsible for talent accounting.

Since 2008 Sarah has led the Technology team of BBC Worldwide responsible for all forms of technological development from both internal systems to external digital applications.

In 2008 she became the board champion for editorial standards across the group, working with a team of editorial leaders across the company.

She also has direct responsibility for corporate-wide projects such as the Marketing Review (successfully concluded in 2008 and resulting in a significant increase in the company's strategic marketing ability) and the company's successful relocation to its new UK base at the Media Centre in West London.

Sarah became the Chief Operating Officer in July 2007 and prior to this was the Director of Legal and Business Affairs for the company.

During her career at the BBC she has held a variety of positions including being the company's lead negotiator on large-scale joint ventures and partnerships such as the successful partnership with Discovery.

Sarah joined the BBC Worldwide Board as Director of Business Affairs in March 2000.