Mark Byford was appointed Director BBC World Service in September 1998 and is a member of the BBC’s Executive Committee. He leads the world’s most successful international radio service with a world wide weekly audience of 153 million listeners. The World Service recently developed its internet presence and this year was judged the best radio website in the world at the prestigious Webby awards. Previously Mark was Director of Regional Broadcasting and a member of the BBC’s Board of Management.
In this role he was responsible for all BBC regional television and local radio across the UK including Spotlight and Radio Cornwall. Mark Byford began his career with BBC TV Leeds in 1979. Between 1982 and 1987 he worked at BBC TV South and BBC West.
In October 1988 Mark became Home Editor, BBC TV News, responsible for all the UK-wide network newsgathering operations. He was appointed Assistant Controller, Regional Broadcasting (News & Current Affairs) in 1990. Mark Byford is a former director of the British Audience Research Board and Radio Joint Audience Research Ltd and a trustee of the BBC Children in Need Appeal. He is a fellow of the Radio Academy and an award-winning television producer. Born in Castleford, West Yorkshire, on 13th June 1958, Mark was educated at Lincoln School and is a Law graduate from the University of Leeds. He is married with five children and lists his hobbies as family, football, cricket, fell-walking and rock music.
Mark and his family regularly visit Polzeath on vacation but he has yet to master the Malibu surfboard!