MUMBAI: UK pubcaster the BBC has announced that Jonathan Kingsbury who is currently the head of editorial affairs, has been appointed to head the external supply division of BBC New Media.

The new role will champion the cause of external suppliers to the BBC's New Media division. As part of his role, Kingsbury will encourage the BBC's commissioning teams to use external as well as internal producers; ensure independent companies are properly represented within the BBC and that commissioners are aware of new suppliers; and also collate feedback on the process from the BBC and the industry.

His role will involve overseeing the Approved Suppliers List (ASL), which is to be the prime resource for new media commissioning in future. BBC New media and technology's business and finance director Sharmila Nebhrajani said, "I am delighted Jonathan is taking this key role, which helps us continue to build on the relationship we have with the external market and to enrich the content and services on bbc.co.uk."

Kingsbury says, "I am delighted to be taking on the role of championing external suppliers and, importantly, making it easier for them to work with the BBC. The BBC's objective is to achieve a significant diversity of supply, based on commissioning principles of openness and meritocracy. This will help the BBC in its mission to deliver high-quality and ever more innovative services to our audiences, while at the same time benefiting the new media industry."

The appointment is one of the steps the BBC is taking in order to create a better relationship with independent companies, as part of its plan to meet its self-imposed target of 25 per cent of online applications being supplied by external suppliers.

The BBC has been working towards improving its relationship with new media companies. It has increased the amount it spends on external new media commissions by 30 per cent, to ?8 million, it has also created a ?750,000 innovation fund for independents.

In addition to that, the BBC organised four supplier events in London, Manchester and Edinburgh. The events, which have been well-received by the independent community, were designed to communicate the BBC's new media strategies to the industry.