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Jason Horton is the new head of the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú South region, the corporation has announced.

His appointment follows current Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú South Head Mike Hapgood's decision to retire from the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú at the end of the year.

Jason will take up his new post in the New Year.

Jason joins Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú South from Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Cambridge where, as Managing Editor, he has led the radio station to record audiences as well as overseeing the move of the region's TV, radio and online teams to a new multimedia headquarters.

A former TV news producer, Jason brings with him 10 years of broadcasting experience both in journalism and in production.

He was the first Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú TV reporter on the scene of the Potters Bar train crash in 2002, as well as producing regional TV news programme Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Look East during the Soham murder investigation.

Jason is no stranger to the South region.

The son of an RAF officer, he spent two years at RAF Odiham near Basingstoke and his family now all live in Oxfordshire.

Talking about his new position, Jason said: "I am very excited to be taking on this role, especially at a time of such huge change in the media industry.

"I am really looking forward to the opportunity to deliver engaging output that serves all our audiences across the south, in what are challenging but exciting times.

"I am also looking forward to working with what are clearly a very talented and experienced team of people in the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú South region.

"My experience across TV, radio and online means I understand the day-to-day pressures and opportunities that the team face, enabling us to deliver what our audiences want."

Announcing Jason's move, David Holdsworth, Controller of English Regions, said: "Jason has an impressive track record in both regional television and local radio.

"I know he will relish the new challenges of working in such a diverse region as the South."

HB