Head of BBC Radio 3 and Proms programmer to leave after 15 years in post.

Radio 3 Controller and Director of the BBC Proms Roger Wright is set to leave his post later this year according to an announcement made yesterday. After 15 years in the £227,000 job, Wright will begin a new position in early September as Chief Executive of Aldeburgh Music.

Wright has worked as Controller of BBC Radio 3 since 1998 and Director of the BBC Proms since 2007. During this time, Radio 3 has cemented its place as the BBC’s home of classical music, and the BBC Proms has grown to become the world’s largest music festival. His departure will leave one of classical music’s plum roles up for grabs.

Wright’s long association with the music industry began in 1978 at the British Music Information Centre. He then worked as an artistic administrator at the Cleveland Orchestra, senior producer at the BBC Symphony Orchestra and as an executive at Deutsche Grammophon.

“Roger has made a huge contribution to the BBC, through the success of both Radio 3 and seven seasons of the Proms,” said BBC Director-General Tony Hall. “He has been a fantastic champion of classical music...