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Press Releases
Jenny Abramsky to step down as Director of 91Èȱ¬ Audio & Music
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An email was sent to 91Èȱ¬ staff today from Mark Thompson, 91Èȱ¬ Director-General, to inform them that Jenny Abramsky has decided to step down as Director of Audio & Music.
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The text of the email follows:
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"Dear All,
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"I wanted to let you know that Jenny Abramsky has decided to step down as Director of Audio & Music and to leave the 91Èȱ¬ at the end of September. Downing Street is announcing later this morning that Jenny will go on to chair the Heritage Lottery Fund when she leaves the 91Èȱ¬.
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"She steps down from her present role after 39 years here in the 91Èȱ¬. It is a remarkable career – she edited the World At One, PM and the Today programme before becoming Editor of all Radio News and Current Affairs. She set up a continuous news service (Gulf FM) during the first Gulf War which was the forerunner to Radio 5 Live, where she was launch controller.
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"As Director of the 91Èȱ¬ Continuous News department she launched News 24 and 91Èȱ¬ News online. As Director of Radio she launched the five digital radio services. More recently, as Director of Audio & Music she has been responsible for all 91Èȱ¬ Music output and commissioned the Electric Proms.
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"Her contribution to the 91Èȱ¬ has been immense and she will leave a precious and lasting legacy. Everything she has done has been characterised by her legendary passion for the medium of radio and the 91Èȱ¬ as a public service broadcaster, as well as her devotion to 91Èȱ¬ audiences. She leaves 91Èȱ¬ Radio in remarkable health with record audience figures and an exciting digital future already in place.
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"We will shortly begin the process of appointing Jenny's successor.
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"All the best,
Mark Thompson,
Director-General"
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 Jenny Abramsky sent the following email to staff in 91Èȱ¬ Audio & Music:
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"Dear all,
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"In a few minutes, the announcement will be made that I will be leaving the 91Èȱ¬ at the end of the summer, to take up a new role as Chairman of the Heritage Lottery Fund.
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"Whilst this is a wonderful opportunity, it will be a great wrench for me to leave the 91Èȱ¬. I have spent my working life here, the vast majority of it in Radio, and I am as passionate about it now as when I joined as a Programme Operations Assistant 39 years ago.
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"I have always believed that the 91Èȱ¬ is the most important cultural institution in the UK. Its willingness to take risks, its ambition that permeates through its programmes and schedules, and the unsurpassed quality of its news output demonstrates every day that it can and does make a difference. I feel privileged to have been involved for so many years, and it's been amazing fun.
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"There is never a good time to leave, but I think now is the right time for me to take on a new challenge and I am thrilled to be given this opportunity to lead the HLF in its work of safeguarding and sustaining our wonderful heritage.
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"I won't be leaving for some months, so I hope I will have the chance to say goodbye to most of you in person. There are many strong candidates to take over as Director of Audio & Music, and I have no doubt that, when I finally do leave, A&M will be in as strong a position as it has ever been.
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"Best wishes,
Jenny"
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91Èȱ¬ Press Office
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