Richard Titus, the BBC’s future media and technology (FM&T) controller for audio, music and mobile, is leaving the corporation after two years for the vacant CEO post at Associated Northcliffe Digital, we have confirmed. His replacement – Mark Kortekaas, the former CBS Interactive (NYSE: CBS) CTO and SVP who was drafted in as CTO for ill-fated Project Kangaroo in November.
The Daily Mail (LSE: DMGT) consumer online unit, which also operates its range of classified sites including Jobsite.co.uk, FindaProperty.com and Primelocation.com, let MD Andy Hart go in its latest restructure in July. Now it seems some online leadership is needed again. Titus will report to the MD of A+N Digital, the newly merged corporate umbrella uniting both Northcliffe regionals and Associated national titles.
FM&T chief Erik Huggers brought Titus (pictured) to the BBC as a consultant in 2007 but Titus was promoted to one of three online controllers beneath Huggers in November 2008. Having founded LA design house Schematic 10 years ago before selling to WPP and, later, becoming a Razorfish VP, design-minded Titus has found himself overseeing all aspects of BBC online radio, music, mobile and rapid application development.
Titus is also an indie film producer, having made Who Killed The Electric Car? with his wife. The sharp-minded Californian is unlikely to take any crap at a news site that’s increasingly popular but which is struggling to make growing returns.