Richard Dawkins is leaving the BBC to become chief operating officer across Bauer Media’s European radio division.

Dawkins – currently COO of BBC Content, which commissions and schedules content across the BBC – will “work alongside senior radio management teams to identify new market and commercial opportunities”.

Bauer – whose UK radio brands include Absolute, Kiss, Magic and Hits Radio – says it reaches 25 million listeners across Europe daily. It has four nominations at the 2019 Music Week Awards – Absolute and Planet Rock are up for Radio Station while Alex Baker’s Fresh Blood (Kerrang! Radio) and Danielle Perry’s Sunday Night Music Club (Absolute) are up for Radio Show.

Dawkins will join in late spring and report to Paul Keenan, CEO of Bauer Media UK and European radio.

"Richard brings a wealth of experience and knowledge spanning media strategy, operations and change management, which will be of immense value as we accelerate the growth of Bauer Media, Europe’s leading radio and audio business,” said Keenan.

"It's a brilliant time to be joining Bauer Media with commercial radio thriving and digital and IP distribution offering new, exciting opportunities for innovation in audio,” said Dawkins. "I'm really looking forward to joining the team and building on Bauer's leading position across European markets.”

Bauer had a good Q4 in the latest RAJAR results, with Magic’s breakfast show team of Ronan Keating and Harriet Scott posting a record figure.

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