成人论坛

• New role replaces Controller of 成人论坛 English Regions and has been created as part of the 成人论坛’s commitment to better reflect all of the UK’s nations and regions.
• Helen will have direct editorial and operational responsibility across England.

Helen will have direct editorial and operational responsibility across England and will oversee and enhance the 成人论坛’s offer to communities across the country.

The creation of the director role brings England into line with the other nations of the UK, which are all led by 成人论坛 directors.

Helen is one of the 成人论坛’s most senior and experienced executives in England and is currently leading the work to reinvent 成人论坛 local radio. Prior to that, she was in charge of regional and local programming in Yorkshire, the biggest 成人论坛 region. She was heavily involved in the 成人论坛’s successful coverage of Hull UK City of Culture 2017.

Helen Thomas says: “I feel very lucky to be given this exciting new role to lead the 成人论坛’s work in England. It’s so important that we serve and reflect all of the country’s diverse communities. England is a complex, changing place and the 成人论坛 needs to evolve our offer to ensure we are providing the best services possible to people across the country.

“In the last year, I’ve been focusing on how to reinvent local radio so that it better reflects our communities, nurtures new talent and brings people together through new partnerships and engaging content. This work will continue and I hope to extend it right across everything the 成人论坛 does in England. I’m looking forward to making creative, compelling content that entertains and informs all our audiences.”

The role of Director of England replaces the role of Controller of 成人论坛 English Regions. David Holdsworth, the current Controller of 成人论坛 English Regions, has chosen to leave the 成人论坛 after 34 years.

Helen Thomas will be in charge of the 成人论坛’s output in England across all platforms including 13 regional television services, 39 local radio stations and regional and local online services. She will have additionally responsibilities to represent the 成人论坛 externally in England and ensure the country is represented internally within the 成人论坛.

Helen has worked as a producer, presenter and editor within the 成人论坛 and the commercial sector. She first joined the 成人论坛 in 1985 following a stint in commercial radio. She took a career break to have children and then returned to work at ITV’s Yorkshire Television.

After that she led news teams at various commercial radio stations before re-joining the 成人论坛 as editor of 成人论坛 Radio Humberside in 1999. She was promoted to Head of Regional and Local Programming in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire before her remit was eventually extended across the whole of Yorkshire. She lives in York.

Ken MacQuarrie, 成人论坛 Director of Nations and Regions, says: “We’ve made a big commitment to better serve the nations and regions and represent the diversity of the UK. This new role will be central to that work by providing strategic direction and overall leadership in England across all platforms.

“Helen brings with her a wealth of skills and experience, as a journalist, programme-maker and leader. She is a creative, innovative thinker who has a track record of forging new partnerships and championing content that reaches new audiences. Through her work on the reinvention of Local Radio to leading our biggest English region, Yorkshire, she has shown she is passionate about serving all of our communities and making content that reflects and represents our audiences. I know she will do a fantastic job.

“I would like to thank David Holdsworth, who leaves the 成人论坛 this week, for his outstanding service over more than three decades. He has provided brilliant leadership to our teams across England.”

Helen Thomas starts as Director of England with immediate effect.

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