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Richard Deverell has been appointed Chief Operating Officer at the Â鶹Éç's new broadcasting and production centre at Salford Quays.

Currently Controller, Â鶹Éç Children's, Richard will report directly to Peter Salmon, Director, Â鶹Éç North, and will deputise for Peter as required. The role will be based in Salford when the development opens.

In his new role, Richard will be responsible for developing and implementing the strategic and operational infrastructure for Â鶹Éç North. He will help ensure the right technology, structure, ways of working and talent are in place to deliver the Â鶹Éç's ambitions as it seeks to create the most advanced broadcasting centre in the world at Salford Quays.

As well as beginning to fulfil requirements for his new role, Richard will continue as Controller, Â鶹Éç Children's until 2010, overseeing CÂ鶹Éç, this year's BAFTA children's channel of the year, and CBeebies, the nation's most-loved and most-watched channel for the under-sixes.

He will finish the work he has started in leading the department's preparations for the move to Salford. The position to run Children's Â鶹Éç will then be advertised.

Announcing the appointment, Peter Salmon said: "This role is fundamental to the success of Â鶹Éç North and Richard brings with him enormous strategic, editorial and creative experience.

"Taken alongside his compelling track record as a creative leader, and his long-term commitment to Â鶹Éç North, he is an outstanding choice for COO."

Richard Deverell said: "This is a unique opportunity to help create something new and exciting, and to reinvent the Â鶹Éç for the very different media landscape of the 21st century.

"Salford can be a showcase for creative excellence, audience focus and a new approach to partnerships, as well as offering new and exciting careers for staff. I am delighted to be part of the team bringing this vision to life.

"More personally, Children's has been a very special department to work in. I am hugely proud of CÂ鶹Éç and CBeebies and I am delighted to continue to play a role in their on-going success and provide a smooth transition during a period of considerable change."

Richard Deverell was appointed Controller, Â鶹Éç Children's in February 2006, having joined the department as Chief Operating Officer in June 2005.

He was previously Head of News Interactive, responsible for the Â鶹Éç News website, Interactive TV, Ceefax and iCan, and before that Head of Strategy and Marketing at Â鶹Éç News.

He joined the Â鶹Éç in 1992 in the strategy department where he worked on a variety of projects including Â鶹Éç Charter renewal and developing the Â鶹Éç's response to multi-channel television distribution and the internet.

Â鶹Éç Press Office