MUMBAI: UK pubcaster the BBC's commercial arm BBC WOrldwide has announced that Simon Clift, Unilever's global chief marketing officer has joined its board as a non-executive director.

His appointment is a further step in BBC Worldwide's move to ensure both greater transparency in its governance and an even broader range of expertise at senior level.

BBC Worldwide CEO John Smith said: "Simon's extensive experience in marketing and in building brands around the world will provide a great resource for BBC Worldwide to draw on as it moves ahead with its current growth strategy.

"During our strategic review in 2004/5 we identified a need to be more transparent in our governance and reporting in order to ensure clearer understanding of our remit and performance. The introduction of non-executive directors is one of the steps we have taken to achieve this.

"In addition, these directors - Etienne de Villiers, our non executive Chairman, Jana Bennett (Director of Television, BBC), Nicholas Eldred (General Counsel, BBC), Zarin Patel (Director of Finance, BBC) - and now Simon, will make rich contributions to the development of our international expansion plans."