The
managing director of BBC Technology – which is being sold off
in a deal worth more than £100m– has been dismissed with
immediate effect for "misusing hospitality".
Ann Wilson, who
joined BBC Technology 18 months ago, was dismissed earlier this
week after an internal disciplinary procedure, a spokeswoman
confirmed.
The sale of BBC
Technology, which is expected to generate more than £100m, is
in its early stages, with nine IT service providers on the
shortlist, including IBM, EDS, Accenture and CSC.
However, the
spokeswoman stressed that Wilson’s departure would have no
impact on the negotiations, which also incorporate the £2bn
10-year contract to run the BBC’s IT.
“We would
like to stress that this is a matter entirely separate from the
procurement and sale of BBC Technology which will go ahead under
the direction of John Varney, the BBC’s chief technology
officer,” the spokeswoman said.
The shortlist of
bidders will be cut to three in April, with the new contract
expected to begin in September.
Adrian Corcoran,
the director of operations at BBC Technology, has been appointed
acting managing director on an interim basis, with a full-time
appointment expected in “the coming weeks”.
Wilson was chief
operating officer at management consulting firm Arthur D Little
before joining BBC Technology in August 2002. She has also worked
at IBM and Phillips.