Anna Carragher, Controller of BBC Northern Ireland for the past six years, has announced that she will retire in October, after 36 years in the BBC. The recruitment process for her successor will start immediately.

Anna Carragher said: "I feel both privileged and proud to have had a long and varied career with the BBC and I am particularly proud to have been Head of Programmes, Head of Broadcasting and Controller, BBC Northern Ireland at a time of great change both in the industry and in Northern Ireland.

"I've worked with great people and we've made great programmes. I shall miss the staff of BBC Northern Ireland immensely – and want to thank them all for all the achievements of the last decade."

Paying tribute to Anna Carragher, Pat Loughrey, the BBC's Director of Nations and Regions, said: "Throughout her career Anna has been an outstanding editorial leader and one of the BBC's most distinguished journalists.

"Initially as Head of Programmes and then as Northern Ireland's first female Controller, she has led the BBC's affairs through a period of real challenge but also of great opportunity – including record-breaking audience figures and a host of UK-wide awards for radio and television."

Professor Fabian Monds, the BBC's National Governor for Northern Ireland, said: "Anna has led BBC Northern Ireland through a period of significant change and modernisation with energy, flair and imagination.

"She has overseen the enhancement of local and network output, delivering improved quality and diversity and earning strong audience appreciation.

"She has positioned BBC Northern Ireland very favourably for the digital broadcasting era.

"I am especially grateful for her enthusiastic commitment to improving the BBC's accountability to local audiences and for ensuring and effective and efficient relationship between management and the Broadcasting Council for Northern Ireland. I wish her every continuing success in the future."

Anna Carragher joined the BBC as a studio manager in London in 1970 after graduating from Queen's University, Belfast. She became a producer on BBC Radio 4's Today programme in 1975, worked as the BBC's Radio News producer in New York in 1977, then moved to television in 1982 to join the launch team of Breakfast Time (BBC ONE).

She then worked on Newsnight (BBC TWO) and from 1985 to 1989 was the producer of Question Time (BBC ONE).

In 1989 she returned to radio as the producer of Radio 4's Any Questions?, then edited European and Correspondent programmes for the network and for BBC Radio Five Live.

She became Head of Programmes, BBC Northern Ireland, in 1995 (re-designated Head of Broadcasting the following year) and Controller in September 2000.

She is a member of Business in the Community and of Rajar (Radio Joint Audience Research Ltd), a trustee of the Grand Opera House, Belfast and a member of The Sony Radio Academy Awards Committee.

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