Farewell BBC - and hello Yahoo!
Right then! It's time to get everything out in the open and talk about some of the stuff that's been going on behind the scenes over the last few months. First things first - and this will probably come as a bit of a surprise to a few people - I've decided to make a move from the BBC to go and try something new. The last couple of years have been extraordinary in a lot of ways - I've been lucky enough to work on (and occasionally initiate) some really significant projects around the organisation, I've been able to explore whole new areas of media navigation, interaction and distribution and I've done it all in the company of some absolutely extraordinary people.
In particular, working with Matt Webb was one of the weirdest, challenging and fruitful working relationships of my life. Similarly, playing once again with Mr Biddulph reminded me exactly how much I'd recommend the experience to everyone. If you need any freelance wizardry performed, I can't praise him highly enough. And I also can't say enough good things about Paul Hammond - whether he's been driving me nuts or keeping me sane, he's always been insightful and great company.
There are loads of other people I'm thrilled to have worked with in the organisation and I can't possibly name them all, but various projects stick in my head and it's probably worth opening them up a little. I had great fun on the first pass through the Programme Information Pages project (and the Radio 3 site that emerged from it), and it wouldn't have been the experience it was without Margaret Hanley and Gavin Bell (and about a dozen other cool people). At the other extreme, rapidly building and deploying the Listen Live Widget with Duncan Ponting was enormously satisfying, as was the Phonetags project working with Webb, Jason Cowlam, Graham Beale and (again) Gavin. And I'd be remiss if I didn't briefly mention the small team I'm currently working with (Helen Crowe, Chris Bowley, Tristan Ferne, Bronwyn Van Der Merwe and Paul Clifford) - hopefully I'll be able to talk a bit more about what we've been up to before I leave.
So the second major thing that I should probably let people know is that I'm leaving the BBC to go and work for Bradley Horowitz in the Tech Development Group at Yahoo! (alongside Simon Willison and Jeremy Zawodny among others). My particular special skill - I gather - is going to be the power of my social media mojo, undercut with my feral design instincts. I'll be based in London but out in the States pretty regularly - and here's the best bit - playing with the Flickr team and the Upcoming crew and all the folks over at Yahoo Research Berkeley (among others). Anyway, as is probably fairly evident, this is not the kind of opportunity you turn down without a very good reason, and I've wracked my brains and I sure as hell can't think of one. So wish me luck!
Comments
Please stay on-topic, informative and polite. I reserve the right to remove comments for whatever vague capricious reasons seem reasonable at the time.
Congratulations! Best of luck.
→ Posted by: Gord Fynes at October 17, 2005 1:15 AM
Oooh - well done. Yahoo has been doing really well lately with lots of nice new products and smart acquisitions. I'm sure it's a good team to go and join.
→ Posted by: Jamie at October 17, 2005 1:36 AM
Ah good stuff! Where are their offices then?
→ Posted by: Nick Ludlam at October 17, 2005 1:40 AM
Congrats and welcome, Tom! Looking forward to working with you in the TechDev group. It's great fun, I assure you.
Chad
(one of the other TechDev guys)
→ Posted by: Chad Dickerson at October 17, 2005 2:16 AM
Congrats! I think...though you did kind of make your old job sound better than your new one...but I'm sure that wasn't your intent (heck, why would you take the new one if that were the case). But I digress, good luck Tom
→ Posted by: Tom at October 17, 2005 2:18 AM
Cool. Congrats.
→ Posted by: Scott Reynen at October 17, 2005 2:18 AM
YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!!!!
→ Posted by: zephoria at October 17, 2005 3:04 AM
Wow, that sounds really exciting. No wonder you've been so enthusiastic about Yahoo's recent purchases. ;) Congratulations, Tom.
→ Posted by: Bart at October 17, 2005 3:23 AM
Congrats! good luck on your new adventures!
Alex.
→ Posted by: Alex Barnett at October 17, 2005 4:46 AM
Congrats Tom. As another Brit who's recently joined Yahoo and I'm sure you'll find the work and possibilities as exciting as I do.
→ Posted by: Dave Beckett at October 17, 2005 5:17 AM
Welcome to the team! We're going to have some fun, for sure. We're lucky to have you, and can't wait to get started.
→ Posted by: Bradley Horowitz at October 17, 2005 5:22 AM
Hi, Tom--Good luck and best wishes with the new gig and new team. Sanjay
→ Posted by: Sanjay Khanna at October 17, 2005 6:17 AM
Congratulations, Mr Plasticbag.
→ Posted by: Mark at October 17, 2005 6:25 AM
Shame. I guess I'll be dumping the link into my journal then. Thanks for the insights while you were at the beeb.
→ Posted by: LJUser at October 17, 2005 7:33 AM
I guess we'll finally get the chance to hit the bars in SF then. Like, 5th times the charm, eh Tom?
→ Posted by: ernie at October 17, 2005 7:37 AM
woot!
→ Posted by: leonard at October 17, 2005 7:45 AM
congratulations! as it turns out, i'm starting a new job tomorrow as well.
hope you have a great time!
→ Posted by: minifig at October 17, 2005 8:31 AM
When you're in Berkeley, if you should get bored (hah!), I also live here and would love to hang out sometime. I can introduce you to the exciting world of the queer student co-op— we have some awesome parties.
Congratulations and good luck!
→ Posted by: entitything at October 17, 2005 8:38 AM
Nice one Tom. Sounds like a great opportunity and I am sure it will work out well. We just finished a little job for the marketing group in the London office so I might drop by and say hello.
You're within easy walking distance of Covent Garden, and Bar Italia just about qualifies as your local coffee bar, so there's two good reasons right there! :-)
→ Posted by: Lee Bryant at October 17, 2005 8:42 AM
Great news and good luck!
→ Posted by: Dan Hon at October 17, 2005 8:47 AM
Well done Tom. It sounds very exciting and if the comments are to go by, a great bunch of people. Its great the way Yahoo always responds when I report spammers to them.
→ Posted by: Geoff at October 17, 2005 8:56 AM
Well done Tom. Sounds like a great move for you.
→ Posted by: David Pepper at October 17, 2005 9:16 AM
Finally :) Well done, good luck!
→ Posted by: rodcorp at October 17, 2005 9:17 AM
Fantastic! Well done, Tom!
→ Posted by: Yoz at October 17, 2005 9:28 AM
Well done you. Blimey, that sounds like a whole heap of fun. Do enjoy!
→ Posted by: tom (not Coates) at October 17, 2005 9:36 AM
Our loss, Yahoo's gain. Good luck Tom!
→ Posted by: Julian at October 17, 2005 9:52 AM
Woohoo! Congrats Tom!
→ Posted by: Natali at October 17, 2005 9:52 AM
What they all said!
→ Posted by: Phil Gyford at October 17, 2005 10:05 AM
It's well deserved Tom, I'm sure! Have lots of fun - I envy you!
→ Posted by: Kars at October 17, 2005 10:17 AM
Way to go Tom!
→ Posted by: Jasmeet at October 17, 2005 10:58 AM
Sickly jealous.
Go you!
x
→ Posted by: k at October 17, 2005 11:12 AM
Well done old chap, great news! I'm sure Yahoo must need something done in Noozleland that'll require your personal touch :)
→ Posted by: Dave at October 17, 2005 11:15 AM
Congratulations and best of luck, Tom!
→ Posted by: Jack Mottram at October 17, 2005 11:30 AM
Congratulations! Yahoo do seem to be hyperactive on the Web 2.0 front at the minute, don't they? I look forward to seeing what you end up doing with them.
→ Posted by: Adrian McEwen at October 17, 2005 11:47 AM
Well done. What a great opportunity!
→ Posted by: Robert Andrews at October 17, 2005 11:57 AM
(x16) Congratulations!
And more importantly, how did you find that job at Yahoo!? Where can I find a job? :)
→ Posted by: wonderful electric at October 17, 2005 12:28 PM
Good luck! Sounds like the place to be at the moment.
→ Posted by: Paul Morriss at October 17, 2005 1:01 PM
Oooh! Squeeeeee! Congratulations Tom! I'm so happy that it all finally came together. Good luck in the new job - I hope it all goes swimmingly well.
I'm also glad you're not going to the states for good. I still have plans for pints etc. :)
→ Posted by: Suw at October 17, 2005 1:06 PM
Congrats Tom. Hope you still have a rare bit of time for Xbox Live once in a while ;)
→ Posted by: Cranium Oxide at October 17, 2005 2:09 PM
Congrats on the new job, Tom!
→ Posted by: Keith at October 17, 2005 2:21 PM
Congratulations! Sounds like a fab job!
→ Posted by: Max Niederhofer at October 17, 2005 2:50 PM
{del}Nice{/del} {ins}Adorable{/ins} guy makes good.
→ Posted by: Joe Clark at October 17, 2005 3:43 PM
That sounds sensational! Congratulations, man.
→ Posted by: Chris at October 17, 2005 3:49 PM
Good on ya! Best of luck!
→ Posted by: shoepal at October 17, 2005 4:35 PM
Nice one Tom. Sounds like you're going to have a brilliant time.
Glad you're not going to the states too!
→ Posted by: Hanni at October 17, 2005 5:21 PM
Congratulations. Look forward to working with you at Yahoo.
→ Posted by: Ian Kennedy at October 17, 2005 5:37 PM
Well done, they're lucky to have you :-)
→ Posted by: Nic at October 17, 2005 5:47 PM
Are you going to have to get up much earlier?
→ Posted by: James Cherkoff at October 17, 2005 6:01 PM
Just adding my congratulations - have enjoyed the site immensely, and look forward to all the Yahoo development leaks...er...news you'll be delivering. Cough.
→ Posted by: thomas at October 17, 2005 6:07 PM
Welcome aboard Tom. Glad to have you and your "social media mojo". Lots of fun things in the works.
→ Posted by: nate koechley at October 17, 2005 6:12 PM
as a reader, congratulations.
→ Posted by: Camilo at October 17, 2005 6:19 PM
Wohoo, congrats!!
Where will you be based in London? Whats the deal?!
Tell us more! :)
→ Posted by: Ben Spicer at October 17, 2005 7:02 PM
Bravo, Tom. Glad everything finally worked out :o)
→ Posted by: Dunstan at October 17, 2005 7:11 PM
Go Tom!
I'm glad to see this whole interweb thingy is starting to pay off!
→ Posted by: CrazyUncleJoe at October 17, 2005 7:23 PM
Ace one. Have tons of fun, and cause just the right amount of trouble!
→ Posted by: TomDolan at October 17, 2005 7:52 PM
Woohoo (or yahoo!)
Maybe I'll have to install Yahoo Messenger now...
→ Posted by: Chris at October 17, 2005 8:07 PM
Well done Tom! I look forward to reading about your yet-to-happen achievements.
→ Posted by: John Bloor at October 17, 2005 8:20 PM
Wow, that's great. Congrats, Tom!
→ Posted by: Caroline at October 17, 2005 8:35 PM
Helloo! from someone who dediced not to move to California. All the best and enjoy the sping, the srpring, the spring and the spring! :-)
→ Posted by: Beep at October 17, 2005 9:27 PM
Kick ass.
→ Posted by: Jeremy Zawodny at October 17, 2005 10:38 PM
kudos
→ Posted by: timb at October 17, 2005 10:54 PM
You might stumble over Mitch Lazar who has just joined Yahoo in London from CNN/Turner Broadcasting - a good chap well worth getting to know!
→ Posted by: TT at October 17, 2005 11:01 PM
Congratulations! And congrats to Yahoo! for continuing to build an awesome team!
→ Posted by: eszter at October 17, 2005 11:55 PM
Yahoo really is snatching up the best and the brightest these days. Work with Berkeley but live in London - I couldn't imagine a better scenario. Congratulations!
→ Posted by: Adam Simon at October 18, 2005 1:16 AM
I'll join the chorus of congratulations. Sounds like a great opportunity.
→ Posted by: Dan at October 18, 2005 3:44 AM
welcome, Tom! rocking will happen.
once we finish the hazing rituals, it'll be SO much fun!
→ Posted by: Allspaw at October 18, 2005 4:24 AM
Congrats Tom and Good Luck!
→ Posted by: Eric Janssen at October 18, 2005 4:33 AM
Congrats on joining Yahoo! us in the London team are very glad to have you around
→ Posted by: Martin Price at October 18, 2005 5:31 AM
Cheers, mate! And all that stuff.
→ Posted by: Andy Baio at October 18, 2005 11:02 AM
Congratulations Tom.
The BBC's loss is yahoo's gain.
I hope you will come back one day.
→ Posted by: Nick Reynolds at October 18, 2005 3:26 PM
Something perhaps to float within Yahoo
→ Posted by: Saltation at October 18, 2005 10:33 PM
Yes! I've had my head buried in schoolwork and didn't realize the deed had been done yet. Really looking forward to working with you. This is going to be fun.
→ Posted by: Ryan Shaw at October 19, 2005 2:20 AM
Congratulations,
Its a real shame to see some of the most talented people leaving the BBC, it was actually you, Matt, Gavin, etc which convinced me that working for the BBC was a great idea. But what a great time to join Yahoo! You will be deeply missed around the BBC, I'm sure our paths will cross again.
→ Posted by: Ian Forrester at October 20, 2005 3:08 AM
Yay yay yay etc!
And so on, and so forth.
So you'll be able to go and work at Sunnyvale (occasionally) and be a Scooby gang guy!
→ Posted by: cait at October 20, 2005 11:34 AM
Show us yer mojo!
Congratulations, Tom!
→ Posted by: George Oates at October 20, 2005 9:04 PM
rock on! welcome to the team tom!
→ Posted by: Dave at October 30, 2005 2:21 AM
Sorry to join in the comments a bit late, and sorry to be less happy than the above posters, I was just wondering how you squared your enjoyment of your new job with the fate of the Chinese journalist Shi Tao reported on here (I'm sure you've seen the story elsewhere too of course):
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/09/07/business/yahoo.php
It doesn't make pretty reading, does it, Yahoo helping the Chinese authorities to bang up journalists for 10 years? What do you former colleagues at the BBC say about it?
As I say, sorry to be negative and maybe Yahoo aren't as complicit in this as they seem but the explanation they give (going along with local laws etc) doesn't stack up in light of their defence in the past of a man who wanted to sell Nazi paraphernalia on a Yahoo site, something that is banned in France and which led to problems with the French authorities (on this occasion Yahoo argued in favour of freedom of speech). The seemingly mutually exclusive arguments employed by Yahoo on these two occasions can only really make sense if one views them from the point of view of turning a buck. Or is that unfair?
→ Posted by: Patrick Dodds at November 26, 2005 3:33 PM
Yahoo are a large corporation like any other, once that growth happens the gloves are off and its all about business so at the end of the day Tom probably switched one corporate behemoth for another. It happens. Still congrats on the new job, hope it all works out.
→ Posted by: Tony Goff at December 9, 2005 12:43 PM