Company's general manager on November 1.

BBC chairman Mr. Fernance Perry made the official announcement yesterday.

Mr. Richardson, who recently completed an international senior management programme at Harvard Business School, will replace Mr. Malcolm Fletcher who has been with the company for 31 years and retires on October 31.

Announcing Mr. Fletcher's retirement, Mr. Perry said: "It will be difficult for any of his successors to uphold the high standard which he has worked so hard to maintain.

But he added: "I and the board have every confidence in Mr. Richardson that he will endeavour to manage this company with the same dedication and conscientiousness of his predecessor.

"We also feel that he will continue to uphold the traditions of community radio and television broadcasting in Bermuda.'' Mr. Richardson first joined BBC as a trainee announcer in 1968 and after training, he became a full-time employee in March 1969.

He left at the end of the year to further his education abroad, specialising in electronic journalism.

In April, 1972, Mr. Richardson returned and resumed employment with ZBM as a news reporter, with particular interest in sports.

He became BBC news director in 1981 and 10 years later he was made deputy general manager.

Shortly after his return from Harvard in August, Mr. Richardson told The Royal Gazette his first objective was to motivate BBC's 50-strong workforce.

"I now have the methodology for bringing the company renewal which is needed at this company,'' he said.

"The staff are not as motivated or excited as they should be. They want to feel they are empowered to make decisions. The top-down management we have now kills creativity.'' Mr. Rick Richardson.