Andy Parfitt

Andy Parfitt has responsibility for BBC Radio 1, Popular Music, BBC 1Xtra, BBC Asian Network and BBC Switch.

Andy joined the BBC in 1980 as a studio manager and then took up a British Forces Broadcasting Services secondment in the Falkland Islands.

On his return he became a producer in BBC Education, before moving to BBC Radio 4 in 1984. Here he produced arts and magazine programmes including Pick Of The Week and Bookshelf.

In 1989 Andy became an integral part of the launch team for the original BBC Radio 5. As the network's Assistant Editor he established and edited Danny Baker's Morning Edition and Six-O-Six. He was also responsible for the network's schedules management and presentation. From there he joined Radio 1.

Prior to being appointed as Controller of Radio 1 in 1998, Andy was the network's Deputy Controller. Andy moved to Radio 1 as Chief Assistant to the Controller in 1993, a year later he was promoted to Editor, Commissioning and Planning. Soon after this he became Managing Editor and then Deputy Controller.

In 2002, Andy oversaw the conception and launch of BBC 1Xtra, a new digital service playing the best in contemporary black music with a strong emphasis on live music and in supporting new UK artists. The station reaches more than half-a-million listeners a week and has helped the BBC to reach a hitherto under-served young ethnic audience, garnering praise from both the target audience and opinion formers alike.

In December 2008, Andy added the role of Controller, BBC Popular Music, to his existing portfolio of BBC services and is now responsible for driving the BBC's popular music strategy forward across all platforms.