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The ´óÏó´«Ã½ has today appointed Rhodri Talfan Davies as Director, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Cymru Wales.

The appointment concludes an extensive recruitment search that followed Menna Richards' departure from the post in February 2011.

Rhodri Talfan Davies, currently Head of Strategy and Communications at ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales, will report to the Director General, Mark Thompson, and join the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Direction Group (BDG) when he begins his new role in September.

He said: "I am thrilled and sincerely honoured to have been chosen for the role of Director. ´óÏó´«Ã½ Cymru Wales is of enormous importance to the creative and cultural life of the nation and is performing brilliantly on the UK networks too.

"There's a great wealth of talent in the creative industries in Wales and I feel privileged to have the opportunity to lead the fantastic team at ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales."

´óÏó´«Ã½ Director General Mark Thompson said: "Rhodri brings with him a wealth of experience across journalism, radio, and the development of new digital services. His deep understanding of Wales – and the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s crucial role in the nation's life – will equip him brilliantly for the challenge of leading such a successful and ambitious part of the organisation."

Born in Cardiff and a Welsh speaker, Rhodri has enjoyed a rich and varied career both within the ´óÏó´«Ã½ and externally. He began his career as a ´óÏó´«Ã½ regional television news producer and reporter in Newcastle, Manchester and London before being appointed Head of Regional and Local Programmes in ´óÏó´«Ã½ Bristol in 1999.

In 2001, Rhodri was appointed Director of Television at Video Networks where he led the development of the UK's first on-demand television service, HomeChoice (now talk talk TV). In 2004 he was appointed Director of Television Marketing at ntl Telewest before returning to the ´óÏó´«Ã½ in 2006 as Head of Strategy and Communications at ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales. Over the last six months, he has led the Digital workstream for Delivering Quality First.

Notes to Editors

As Director, Rhodri Talfan Davies will be responsible for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Cymru Wales' strategic direction. He will oversee all ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales' services in English and Welsh – on radio, TV and online – including a staff of 1,200 people.

Over recent years, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales has also become a very successful centre of production for the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s TV networks including Doctor Who, Torchwood, Sherlock, Merlin, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Cardiff Singer of the World and ´óÏó´«Ã½ Young Musician of the Year.

Later this year, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales will open a new, purpose-built drama production centre in Cardiff Bay to house its growing stable of drama productions. The Roath Lock studios will be home to Doctor Who, the ´óÏó´«Ã½ One series Casualty and Pobol y Cwm (the daily drama produced for the Welsh language channel, S4C).

AS