His appointment marks a new chapter in the Radio 3 story - one that will extend and grow its rich history of excellence, innovation, and distinctiveness.

Davey, 53, is currently Chief Executive Officer of the Arts Council England and will join the station in January 2015, reporting to Helen Boaden, Director of BBC Radio.

Tony Hall, BBC Director-General, said: "Radio 3 is a true icon of classical music and cultural broadcasting in the UK. Alan Davey has a formidable track record in the arts and a depth of understanding only matched by his passion for classical music. His appointment marks a new chapter in the Radio 3 story - one that will extend and grow its rich history of excellence, innovation, and distinctiveness."

Helen Boaden said: “I’m delighted to announce Alan’s appointment as Controller of Radio 3. Alan completely understands why Radio 3 is so important in the lives of its listeners and in the wider cultural life of the nation. He will bring his terrific energy and enthusiasm to Radio 3, building on its huge strengths and invigorating it with fresh perspective.”

Alan Davey said: “Radio 3, the BBC Performing Groups and the Proms together form one of our most important cultural institutions and a beacon of excellence, there to help everyone discover the best in music, arts and ideas. It is an honour to be asked to lead this wonderful institution and to renew it for the digital age, helping new audiences to encounter the wonderful things serious music and culture can bring. I stumbled upon Radio 3 when I was a teenager, and it opened a door to an endlessly fascinating world of sound and thought that has nourished me ever since. I want everyone to have that chance and am proud to be able to make sure they will.”

Peter Bazalgette, Chair of Arts Council England, said: "Alan has been a brilliant Chief Executive of the Arts Council, not least because he has an abiding passion for and knowledge of music. The BBC and Radio 3 is fortunate to get him."

Alan Davey was appointed Chief Executive of the Arts Council England in November 2007. In that time the Arts Council has expanded its reach to cover music education, museums, libraries and cultural property, and increased public audiences for culture by 10%.

He was Director for Culture at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport from 2003, having previously worked in the department as Head of the Arts Division since 2001. In an earlier stint at the then Department of National Heritage he was responsible for designing the National Lottery.

Alan has also worked at the Department of Health. He has been a visiting Fulbright/Helen Hamlyn Scholar at the University of Maryland, has degrees from the universities of Birmingham, Oxford and London, and honorary degrees from the universities of Birmingham and Teesside. He is a member of the Creative Industries Council, of the Council of the University of Birmingham and also chairman of IFACCA - the International Federation of Arts Councils and Cultural Agencies.

Alan succeeds Roger Wright, who stepped down from the role earlier this year after 15 years as Controller.

Notes to Editors

Radio 3 broadcasts high-quality, distinctive classical music and cultural programming, alongside regular arts and ideas programmes, jazz and world music.

The station features more live classical music programming than any other and is the home of the BBC Proms - broadcasting every Prom live and more than 600 complete concerts a year - alongside daily speech programming, 90 full-length operas, over 25 drama commissions and over 20 new BBC music commissions a year.

Radio 3 is the most significant commissioner of new musical works in the country and is committed to supporting new talent, from composers to writers and new young performers, through schemes such as New Generation Artists and New Generation Thinkers.

AH