X

BBC hires Yahoo exec as CTO

John Linwood will tackle the BBC's tech strategy, including maintenance of the technical infrastructure behind all BBC output and oversight of corporate IT.

Steve Ranger UK editor-in-chief, TechRepublic and ZDNet
Steve Ranger is the UK editor-in-chief of ZDNet and TechRepublic. An award-winning journalist, Steve writes about the intersection of technology, business and culture, and regularly appears on TV and radio discussing tech issues. Previously he was the editor of silicon.com.
Steve Ranger
John Linwood
John Linwood BBC

The BBC has hired Yahoo executive John Linwood as its new CTO.

Linwood will be responsible for delivering the BBC's technology strategy, including maintenance of the technical infrastructure behind all BBC output and overseeing the corporation's IT requirements.

He joins the BBC from Yahoo, where he was senior vice president of international engineering, overseeing 1,600 employees across 22 countries, with responsibility for the development, deployment, and delivery of Yahoo's services outside the U.S.

Linwood was also involved with Yahoo's social networking, social media, and user-generated content products as well as e-commerce and search. Linwood previously worked for Microsoft for 11 years.

Director of BBC Future Media and Technology Erik Huggers said more of the BBC's content is being produced and distributed using digital platforms, placing a greater emphasis on software engineering.

Linwood will take up the role starting April 1.

Steve Ranger of Silicon.com reported from London.

See also: Bartz revamps Yahoo to get faster, simpler