BBC iPlayer creator Ashley Highfield takes top job at Johnston Press

THE man who launched the BBC's iPlayer online TV service was yesterday named as the new chief executive of the publisher of The Scotsman.

Johnston Press, which also owns Scotland on Sunday and the Edinburgh Evening News, has appointed Ashley Highfield to succeed John Fry.

Highfield will join from Microsoft, where he is vice-president responsible for its UK consumer and online business, including the MSN website.

Before joining Microsoft, he was director of new media and technology at the BBC, where he was masterminded the launch of the BBC's iPlayer and was editor-in-chief of BBC Online. He was later chief executive of "Project Kangaroo", the video-on-demand joint venture between the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. Ian Russell, chairman of Johnston Press - which owns 263 newspapers, including the Falkirk Herald, the Stornoway Gazette and the Yorkshire Post - said: "I am delighted to announce Ashley's appointment.

"His combined online and media sector pedigree will be a major strength in enabling us to grow our business again.

"On behalf of the board I would also like to thank John for his major contribution to the company and wish him well for the future."

Highfield will receive 500,000-worth of shares under the firm's long-term incentive plan when he takes up his role as chief executive on 1 November.

Fry received a total package worth more than 1 million in 2010, including 525,000 in base salary and 460,000 in cash and shares through a performance-related bonus scheme.

It is understood that Highfield's starting salary will be "significantly less" than Fry's but that he will be part of an equity-incentive plan.

Singer Capital Markets analyst Johnathan Barrett said: "Ashley has a consumer media background with a very strong bias to online. This is important for the future of the business."