Al Gore-backed progressive video network Current has appointed Bauer Consumer Media digital business director Rebekah Billingsley as its first UK new media director. She leaves the former Emap (LSE: EMA), which sold to the German publisher in December, after 18 months, during which she launched Heatworld and Closer Online. Prior to that, she was a five-year biz dev manager at Times Online. Billingsley will report to Current new media president Joanna Drake Earl in the US. Current is a platform for creative semipro short documentary makers, many of whom have their videos voted on to the cable and satellite channel through online polls. On these shores, Current has a relationship with The Guardian under which the paper’s correspondents film webcam thinkpieces aired on the Current site and channel. It’s a replication of Current’s partnership with Salon in the US.