BBC Cymru Wales appoints Elis Owen as Head of Commissioning

BBC Cymru Wales has appointed Elis Owen as its new Head of Commissioning.

In the new role, Mr Owen – who is widely acknowledged as one of Wales' most experienced broadcast professionals – will take overall responsibility for the commissioning of all English language output across all genres on BBC One Wales and BBC Two Wales, and related online content.

The role will build on recent ground-breaking successes such as Coal House to develop BBC Wales' editorial and audience strategy.

Elis Owen was National Director of ITV Wales until his departure earlier this year, having previously been Managing Director and Director of Programmes of HTV Wales.

Originally from Llanelli, he began his career in print journalism, before moving into broadcasting.

He will join BBC Wales at the end of November 2009.

During his time at HTV he built an impressive programme-making portfolio, including award-winning current affairs series Wales This Week and documentary programmes such as Your Century, as well as producing Welsh language ITV Wales programmes for S4C.

He was also responsible for commissioning in-house and independent producers across all genres for ITV1 Wales.

Announcing the appointment, BBC Wales Head of English Language Programmes Clare Hudson said: "Elis' track record as a programme-maker, commissioner and champion of English language television in Wales is second to none.

"His experience of serving audiences with programmes which engage them and which illuminate the changing face of our communities will be invaluable to BBC Wales in the exciting and challenging period which lies ahead of us."

Elis Owen said: "I very much look forward to the challenge of commissioning for BBC Wales and hope to build on the many successful programmes they have produced over the last few years.

"It is important that there is strong English language programming on BBC Wales at a time of great change and challenge for broadcasting."