North, who takes over the role in September, will lead the BBC audiences team and its insight work. He said: “The BBC’s relationship with its audiences is key to everything the Corporation does. I am excited to be joining at a time when technological change is opening up new opportunities to strengthen engagement with audiences and new ways of gaining insights across platforms.”

He will report to Philip Almond, BBC director of marketing and audiences, and be based in London. Margo Swadley has been acting director of audiences and Almond said: “Margo has done a great job in joint-acting up in the director role in recent months.  She will continue to make a big contribution to the BBC in her substantive post as head of audiences for television.”