BBC HR chief Stephen Kelly leaves to join Logica

BBC HR chief Stephen Kelly is leaving the corporation to join Logica in a shock move.

Kelly will join the IT services company as group HR director and a member of its executive committee in the New Year after two years at the BBC.

He will have responsibility for rolling out the people element of the company's business strategy announced in April this year. This includes leading the company's group-wide HR practice and implementing the right back office and people processes to support Logica's business strategy.

Kelly's time at the BBC was blighted by controversy over the performance of its flagship HR outsourcing contract with Capita, hundreds of job cuts and soaring levels of executive pay. Kelly himself earned a total of £431,000 in 2007-08.

Andy Green, Logica chief executive, said: "We are delighted that Stephen Kelly is joining the executive team at Logica. His extensive international people and change management experience will be of real benefit."