The BBC has named Kate Phillips as its new Chief Content Officer, cementing the appointment after a stretch in the role on an interim basis. The news was confirmed internally by Director-General Tim Davie on Tuesday, June 18.
Phillips steps in at a critical point for the broadcaster’s content strategy. She’s already been steering the ship since the exit of Charlotte Moore, who left for Left Bank Pictures and Sony Pictures Television earlier this year. The official move locks in continuity as the BBC heads into the next commissioning cycle.
It’s a natural elevation. Over more than a decade with the BBC, Phillips has run point on some of its most commercially and culturally bankable titles—from Strictly Come Dancing to The Traitors and the recent revival of Gladiators. Most recently, she held the Director of Unscripted title, giving her oversight of a wide spectrum of factual, entertainment, and reality formats.
Her track record spans well beyond Unscripted. As former Controller of BBC One, she had final say on drama, comedy, arts, music, and current affairs, positioning her as one of the few execs in the building with true cross-genre muscle. Earlier stints included Controller of Entertainment and Creative Director of Formats for BBC Worldwide.
The BBC’s internal note from Davie pointed to Phillips’ audience-first approach and long-term vision. For Phillips, the job now is to match that internal vote of confidence with a clear editorial direction, one that can compete in a volatile landscape, hold audience share, and keep costs tight without softening impact.
The new commissioning pipeline starts now.