Joanna Tufuo Abeyie, BBC’s head of creative diversity is stepping down after less than a year and a half in the role, Variety reports.
According to the outlet, Abeyie is leaving the broadcaster to return to her consultancy business, Blue Moon, specialising in diversity and inclusion, and executive recruitment. She may consult for the BBC in the future.
Sources indicate that BBC Director of Content Charlotte Moore first announced Abeyie’s departure on June 22. Her last day in the role is Monday (July 3). When her exit was revealed to her team by the BBC’s group director of diversity and inclusion Chinny Okolidoh, it’s believed a number of staff protested why Abeyie, a well-liked exec with a strong rapport with the group, had been allowed to leave the public broadcaster.
However, Variety understands that her departure reflects the exec’s choice to return to her business, which she set up in 2018.
Abeyie was appointed as interim head of creative diversity in April 2022 and was made permanent in October. She reported to and overlapped with June Sarpong, who was also head of creative diversity for two and a half years and oversaw the BBC’s first Creative Diversity Plan in 2020. (Following Sarpong’s exit last year, the BBC restructured the position into a newly expanded ‘director of diversity and inclusion’ role, now occupied by Okolidoh, that effectively combines creative diversity and workforce remits.)
Abeyie later reported to Okolidoh — who joined the BBC in November — and also worked closely with Moore and Director of Nations Rhodri Talfan-Davies.
Abeyie’s departure will be a shock to the industry given her short tenure at the broadcaster. The turnover also means that her replacement will be the third creative diversity leader at the BBC in two years.
Abeyie was working on the next edition of the Creative Diversity Plan, which pertains to on-air representation and production. It’s believed she was conceiving of new measurements for creative diversity.
Source: Variety
