The BBC has appointed two new leaders to senior roles based in the United States.
Former NBCU executive Jen Brown joins BBC News as svp of programming and content strategy, global digital news and streaming, while NPR’s Saeed Ahmed joins BBC as head of U.S. digital journalism for BBC News.
Brown will be responsible for defining the wider content strategy for the BBC’s news and factual digital platforms outside of the U.K. She will be based in New York, reporting directly to BBC global digital news and streaming evp Jennie Baird.
Ahmed has been tasked with overseeing the company’s digital news content aimed at U.S. audiences. He will be based in Washington, D.C., and report to Stuart Millar, Digital Executive News Editor for BBC News.
“The U.S. is a highly innovative and exciting market for digital journalism in text, video and audio,” BBC News digital director Naja Nielsen said in a statement. “Our multimedia offer is already now used by 50 million consumers weekly, and we know we are more trusted than any other news brand in the US. In a highly polarized time, we believe we have a very compelling and strong offer and that many more Americans would love to know and consume our journalism, known for being impartial, accurate and transparent, always in the pursuit of truth, reporting without fear or favour. I know Jen Brown and Saeed Ahmed are just the team to spearhead and deliver the growth of BBC News in the U.S.”
Brown is a 16-year veteran of NBCUniversal, where she most recently helped launch Peacock. As svp of program planning and content partnerships, she led planning across originals, acquisitions, topical content and FAST channels. Brown won an Emmy for Peacock’s coverage of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Previously, she served as svp, strategic initiatives, at NBCUniversal Digital Enterprises, a team tasked with accelerating digital growth across the company and overseeing NBCU’s digital investments. Brown spent over 10 years at NBC News, where she developed programming that reached new audiences and expanded commercial opportunities.
“BBC’s unique brand of impartial journalism is more relevant and necessary than ever,” Brown added. “I’m thrilled to help lead the commercial strategy outside of the UK to support our mission and enable the expansion of BBC’s journalism to reach new audiences.”
Ahmed joins the BBC from NPR, where he most recently served as digital news director, overseeing the organization’s digital presence across its website, social, streaming platforms, newsletters and smart speakers. Prior to that, Ahmed was the assistant managing editor at CNN Digital. His work has won numerous awards including an Emmy, Webbys and a Peabody.
