Nigel Chapman joined Plan International as Chief Executive Officer in April 2009 following a career in senior positions in news and current affairs with the BBC spanning more than 30 years and also a long association with Plan.

Founded 75 years ago, Plan is one of the oldest and largest children's development organisations in the world. It works in 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas to promote child rights and lift millions of children out of poverty. In 2011, Plan reached 56,500,000 children in 58,053 communities.Plan is independent, with no religious, political or governmental affiliations.

Nigel was Director of the BBC World Service from 2004 to 2009, having overall editorial leadership and management of the world's leading international broadcaster. During his tenure he took the organisation through its biggest restructuring since it was launched over seventy years ago.

During his time as Director, he oversaw an increase in the World Service’s radio audience from 146 million a week to 183 million – its largest ever listenership – and the growth of a large new media portfolio.

He also directed the launch of BBC Arabic TV in 2008 and Persian TV in 2009 - the corporation's first publicly funded international television services.

In 1999, he became the first Director of BBC Online, with responsibility for the development of the corporation's content website and a year later moved to the World Service as Deputy Director, a post he held for four years.

Prior to this he had a number of senior roles in the BBC’s management, including being its Controller of the English Regions.

In addition, Nigel was also Chair of the BBC World Service Trust, the
Service's charitable arm, which uses communications and new technologies to aid development in some of the world's poorest countries.

Nigel has an active history with Plan having spent over six years working at the highest levels of the International Board and Members Assembly and was also Chair of Plan UK – one of the largest global fund raisers for Plan.

He is married to Maggie Farrar and has two children, Clare (24) and Grace (22).

Show full bio

Hide full bio