The BBC’s chief sports correspondent Dan Roan has been appointed as the corporation’s new sports editor.
Roan, 37, will begin his new role with immediate effect, covering both major sporting events and news stories, particularly on BBC TV news output.
He succeeds David Bond, who left the BBC before the recent World Cup in Brazil after more than four-and-a-half years in the post.
Having joined the corporation as a sports reporter in 2010, Roan has been a leading figure amongst BBC Sport across a wide variety of BBC outlets and was promoted to the role of chief sports correspondent in April 2013.
Roan’s BBC reporting CV so far includes reporting from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, the 2012 European Championship in Poland and Ukraine and the London 2012 Olympics.
In addition to major events, Rown led the BBC’s news coverage of the controversial Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2012 and the John Terry racial abuse trial. He also broke the news of Terry’s retirement from international football.
With an in interest in the politics and business of sport, Roan has presented BBC Radio 5 live’s Sportsweek programme and fronted a BBC News documentary on Brazil’s preparations ahead of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics.
Following the departure of David Bond to PR agency Milltown Partners in the summer, Roan lead the BBC’s sports news coverage at the World Cup and Commonwealth Games.
Prior to working at the BBC, Roan was a reporter for Sky Sports News and Setanta Sports, but the Cambridge graduate began his career in journalism as a BBC news trainee in 1998, where he was both a politics and finance journalist.
“This is a tremendous privilege and a wonderful opportunity,” said Roan.
“I look forward to continuing to cover one of the most fascinating and relevant areas of news across all our television, radio and digital platforms – and to working with some extremely talented colleagues across the BBC.”
Director of BBC Sport Barbara Slater added: “Dan has been an outstanding chief sports correspondent, with a proven track record of delivering big interviews and breaking stories across all platforms.
“I know he will bring tremendous drive, ambition and energy to the job.
“Dan already has a significant following on social media and one of his priorities as editor will be to make even more impact with our sports journalism on the BBC Sport website.”
BBC News introduced the sports editor role in 2007 with a brief to expand the remit of its sports coverage across TV, radio and online outlets, as well as appear on its flagship news bulletins.
David Bond, who had previously been the Daily Telegraph’s sports editor, took the role at the BBC in December 2009, replacing Mihir Bose, who was its first incumbent.
Commenting on his departure in June, Barbara Slater said: “David has spearheaded our sports news coverage, contributing to a step change in the quality, range and impact of our reporting.
“His professionalism, insight and commitment to the role have been demonstrated time and time again, not least during London 2012 and in delivering many exclusive stories and agenda-setting interviews.”
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