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BBC Worldwide Australia names Amanda McGregor director of brands, consumers, new ventures
MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide Australia GM Tony Iffland has announced that Amanda McGregor will be the new director of brands, consumers and new ventures, overseeing all commercial and marketing activity for BBC Worldwide in Australia and New Zealand.
She is currently BBC Worldwide Australia director of marketing and her new role will continue to oversee marketing, brand and consumer strategy for BBC Worldwide‘s Australian group of businesses, but will take on additional responsibility for the commercial activity of its six global brands in territory (Top Gear, Dancing With The Stars, Doctor Who, Torchwood, BBC Earth and Lonely Planet) as well as developing other new areas of business.
This new role has been created to reflect the growing emphasis on brands in the business and it will include overseeing live events and gaming, two new and rapidly evolving areas of growth for BBC Worldwide‘s global brands in territory. The two Heads of Commercial Services (Heather McIlfatrick and one to be recruited) will report to McGregor alongside her current team of 16.
In her new role McGregor will continue to report to BBC Worldwide global CMO Helen Kellie and Iffland but will come under BBC Worldwide‘s Brands, Consumers & New Ventures business division led by MD Marcus Arthur.
Iffland said, “Amanda is the ideal person to drive forward greater consumer, brand and marketing focus across BBC Worldwide Australia, and to support our rapidly growing new business areas. She has demonstrated an excellent track record in developing and exploiting our brands across a range of platforms and I am sure will provide great leadership for the live events and gaming areas of our business going forward.”
Arthur said, “Spearheading the extension of well-known properties such as ‘Doctor Who‘, ‘Top Gear‘ or ‘Dancing With The Stars‘ into areas of complete consumer immersion like Live Events and Gaming is exciting but not without its challenges. It‘s for this very reason that I know Amanda is the perfect person to ensure we can build even closer relationships with the Australian and New Zealand fans of these shows in the next few years and give them exactly what they‘re looking for.”
McGregor said, “I‘m delighted to take on this new role, leading our world class and much-loved brand portfolio at such an important time for the business. Australian consumers have a great affinity with our brands which is reflected in the fact that a greater proportion of our revenues come from these brands than anywhere else in the world.”
One of her first priorities will be to recruit a new head of commercial services.
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BLR Airport Launches ‘Connections’ Service to Ease Transit Travel
New initiative targets smoother transfers as Bengaluru hub traffic rises 30 per cent.
MUMBAI: Missed connections may be a traveller’s nightmare but Bengaluru is trying to make them a thing of the past. Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR Airport) has rolled out ‘Connections by BLR’, a new transfer programme designed to take the friction out of connecting journeys. Built around three pillars ease, efficiency and experience,the initiative aims to simplify what is often the most stressful leg of air travel.
The move comes as transfer traffic at BLR Airport climbs sharply, up more than 30 per cent year-on-year. Transfers currently account for around 15 per cent of total passenger traffic and are projected to touch 20 per cent by 2026, signalling a clear shift in how the airport is positioning itself within airline networks.
At its core, the programme focuses on making navigation intuitive and downtime more comfortable. Dedicated transfer desks have been set up across terminals, supported by colour-coded wayfinding blue and yellow signage designed for quick recognition. Inter-terminal movement is being streamlined through complimentary shuttle services with predictable wait times, while designated transfer zones aim to reduce passenger confusion.
Beyond logistics, the airport is leaning into experience. Travellers in transit now have access to a wider choice of lounges, curated retail and food and beverage options, as well as sleeping pods for short stays. For longer layovers, transit hotels in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 offer boutique in-terminal accommodation, an increasingly sought-after feature as global travel patterns evolve.
The timing is strategic. BLR Airport now connects to 114 passenger destinations 80 domestic and 34 international with key routes spanning Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Pune domestically, and Singapore, London Heathrow, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur internationally. Recent additions such as Hindon, Bidar and Silchar within India, alongside Dammam, Hanoi and Riyadh overseas, are further expanding its reach.
Infrastructure is also catching up with ambition. Developments including the West Cross Taxiway, Terminal 1 refurbishment and Terminal 2 expansion are laying the groundwork for higher capacity and smoother operations critical for any airport aiming to become a serious transfer hub.
Bangalore International Airport Limited chief operating officer Girish Nair framed the initiative as both a response to demand and a forward-looking play. He pointed to the growing depth of the airport’s network and the opportunity to build a more reliable transfer ecosystem that benefits both passengers and airline partners.
In an era where travel is as much about transitions as destinations, BLR Airport is betting that a seamless connection might just be the journey’s most important upgrade.
