MG ALBA ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC TEAM REINFORCING ITS COMMITMENT TO GAELIC BROADCASTING
MG ALBA, the Gaelic Media Service has strengthened its team with the announcement today (Wednesday, 5 October) that it has made a key strategic move as well as creating a post for a new commissioning editor.
Director of Development and Partnerships, Iseabail Mactaggart, will take responsibility for the strategic development of BBC ALBA programming and MG ALBA’s Gaelic digital media engagement. This will see Iseabail assume management of MG ALBA’s channel team and oversight of content budgets. Working in close partnership with BBC ALBA’s Head of Service, Iseabail’s principal role will be to increase, amongst other things, the scale and the value of content collaborations with the BBC and with other broadcasters, producers, funders and agencies.
MG ALBA is also pleased to announce the creation of a new post for a commissioning editor, which will go to recruitment shortly.
The new arrangements take place with immediate effect and follow the departure of Alan Esslemont, former head of content for BBC ALBA for the past eight years, who leaves on 7 October to take up the post of Director-General of TG4 later in the month.
Iseabail Mactaggart said: “It is a privilege to take on this role. BBC ALBA is a demonstrable success, and that has been due to the leadership behind the channel. I look forward to working with colleagues within MG ALBA and the BBC, with suppliers and all our stakeholders to build on that remarkable foundation and realise our ambitions for BBC ALBA.”
Donald Campbell, chief executive, added: “Our new arrangements offer us an opportunity to build on the success of BBC ALBA and on the significant progress Iseabail has achieved in the two years since she joined us, working with great success with our creative sector and agencies to help build the capability to realise our shared ambitions for Gaelic media and for the creative sector in Scotland.
“In December 2015, Iseabail led on the publication of our Vision strategy for the next five years – Lèirsinn 2021. The extension of Iseabail’s role and the creation of a new commissioning post reinforces our commitment to realising that vision.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Alan Esslemont for his leadership, his strategic vision and his immense contribution to making BBC ALBA the success it is. We wish him every success in his new post and look forward to collaborating closely with him and with TG4.”
Alan Esslemont said: “The past eight and a half years working with MG ALBA as BBC ALBA Head of Content have been the most enjoyable of my working life. I was privileged to work with such highly committed and professional colleagues and to have been a part of the success story that is BBC ALBA from its inception. I look forward to maintaining a close relationship with BBC ALBA in my new post.”
