BBC appoints Kerensa Samanidis as General Manager of BBC iPlayer

The BBC has welcomed Kerensa Samanidis to serve as General Manager for BBC iPlayer. “I’m delighted to welcome Kerensa to the BBC, her fantastic experience working across a wide range of video streaming businesses and her relentless focus on audience growth is going to help galvanise teams right across the organisation as we all work together to propel BBC iPlayer to the next level," Dan McGolpin, Director of BBC iPlayer and Channels said.

Under her new role, Kerensa will be tasked with overseeing the delivery of the BBC iPlayer growth strategy and management of the overall iPlayer operation. Working with teams across the BBC, including product, marketing and editorial, Kerensa will be tasked with ensuring that BBC iPlayer is the best service it can be for viewers across the UK. Reporting into Dan McGolpin – Director of BBC iPlayer and Channels, 

Kerensa joins from Channel 4 and will start the new role on 19 June. “The BBC and its iconic iPlayer streaming service have consistently led innovation in the industry, so it is a great honour to be brought in to continue this work and drive further progress with the service," Samanidis said."I am looking forward to working with Dan and the talented teams at the BBC at such an important time in its digital future.”

The appointment forms part of BBC iPlayer's overall growth strategy. The service reached seven billion program streams last year. This year, BBC iPlayer its catalog spans new and retunring classics, as well as new programming of all genres.