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Sharon Baylay has been appointed Director of the Â鶹Éç's Marketing, Communications and Audiences division.

Sharon, until recently General Manager of Microsoft Online Services Division UK, joins the Â鶹Éç Executive Board and succeeds Tim Davie, who was appointed Director of Â鶹Éç Audio & Music last year.

In her new role, Sharon will lead more than 400 staff responsible for marketing, communications, audience research and audience services across the Â鶹Éç.

Announcing the appointment, Â鶹Éç Director-General Mark Thompson said: "The Â鶹Éç's relationship with our audience has never been more important than it is today. Sharon's passion, energy and leadership will help ensure the Â鶹Éç keeps the needs and views of our audiences at the forefront of everything we do. Her experience of relating to audiences in different environments will be especially valuable."

Sharon Baylay said: "It is a privilege to join the world's leading broadcaster at this important time. The Â鶹Éç plays a unique and special role in the UK and across the world, a role that feels especially important right now. I very much look forward to working with the many talented professionals in the Â鶹Éç's Marketing, Communications and Audiences Division in supporting the Â鶹Éç and helping to deliver maximum value to audiences."

As General Manager of Microsoft Online Services, Sharon had responsibility for the growth and development of the company's Windows Live and MSN businesses, including the recent acquisition of Multimap.

She joined Microsoft in 1993, holding a range of marketing and management roles, running the international MSN businesses in EMEA, Asia Pacific, Greater China and the Americas before her most recent role.

Under Sharon Baylay's leadership, MSN were a founding member of the Government-led cooperative effort to address the growing problem of cyberbullying. 

Microsoft is also a member of the Home Office Task Force on Child Protection on the internet and Sharon was instrumental in ensuring that the good practice recommendations were reviewed and in most cases adopted by the business. 

She also oversaw MSN's participation in the Internet Watch Foundation.

Sharon began her professional career at Olivetti and Computacentre, working on IBM, Apple and Compaq, and is a holder of a Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Â鶹Éç Press Office