The Church of England’s Diocese in Europe has appointed former senior BBC journalist Andrew Caspari as its new Chief Operating Officer. Mr Caspari took up his new role – in effect the diocesan secretary – on 7 January. He joins the diocese after a long career in the BBC which included a time as Duty Editor of Radio Four’s Today Programme – BBC radio’s flagship breakfast news programme – and as Commission Editor for Radio Four.
“I am delighted to be joining the Diocese and hope to do all I can to help build the impact of our work at this crucial time for the Church and for the continent of Europe”, he said. “I look forward to meeting many of you in the coming months.”
He began his time with the BBC as presenter of the breakfast programme on Liverpool’s BBC Radio Merseyside in the 1980s; before taking on national roles as Duty Editor on Radio 4’s Today Programme, the PM Programme and the World at One. As a journalist he covered the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the Gulf Wars.
As Commissioning Editor at Radio 4 he was responsible for commissioning all the specialist factual output on the station, including all the Religious programming, both worship and journalism. He also worked for the BBC World Service. In recent years he has been Head of Digital for BBC Radio which includes running websites, podcasting, apps and leading the digital presentation of the BBC Proms.
He has also held a number of lay roles in the Church, including serving as Churchwarden at St Martin in the Fields in London’s Trafalgar Square, as the church underwent a £34 million GBP renewal programme. He chairs the audit committee of St James’ Church in Piccadilly and is a member of the advisory committee of the ecumenical Heart Edge network of churches.
His wife Sally also works for the BBC. The couple have two children grown-up children. He will be based at the Diocese in Europe’s offices in Westminster, London, opposite Church House, the headquarters of the Church of England’s national institutions.
