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The ABC taps BBC Worldwide’s Brennan to run kids

The ABC has poached Deidre Brennan from BBC Worldwide and she will be controller of kids TV at the Australian public broadcaster.

Brennan has been Worldwide’s director of content for Australia and New Zealand and will leave for the ABC in early 2014. She is actually rejoining the broadcaster, having worked in its kids programming department for six years to 2007.

Brennan joined Worldwide as director of TV for its Australian and Kiwi channels business in 2010 and was upped to general manager and director of channels and branded services in 2012, before being appointed director of content in April of this year.

In rejoining the ABC she will replace Tim Brooke-Hunt who after a six-year tenure, resigned from the controller, kids, role earlier this year and will leave the position next month.

Brennan said: “My three years’ experience at BBC Worldwide has been invaluable, but I am excited about the opportunity to return to ABC TV as controller (of children’s TV), an area of content that I hold a deep passion for.”

Richard Finlayson, director of ABC TV said: “I’m delighted to welcome Deirdre back to the ABC. Her achievements and standing in Australia and internationally are exceptional and she will undoubtedly make an important contribution to the development of our children’s brands.”