BBC Scotland head of news Gary Smith to step down

BBC Scotland head of news Gary Smith has announced he is stepping down and leaving the corporation after almost 40 years.

Smith, 64, has held the role since 2016 after previously serving as the BBC's UK news editor.

BBC Scotland director Hayley Valentine said it was "hard to overstate the contribution" made by Smith.

She said the recruitment process to find his successor would begin immediately.

Smith was born and raised in Glasgow and educated at Glasgow University before undertaking a post graduate journalism diploma at Cardiff University.

He started with the BBC as a news trainee in 1984 before becoming a sub editor with BBC News the following year.

He moved to Channel Four News in 1989 as a senior political producer, foreign producer and programme editor, where he covered the resignation of Margaret Thatcher, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the civil war in Kashmir.

Returning to the BBC in 1992, he worked as assistant editor on the then Nine O'Clock News as well as editor of political news and UK news editor.

He took over as head of news at BBC Scotland in 2016.

Smith said: "It's been a privilege to have a front row seat as history was made over the past four decades in Scotland, the UK and the world. I've worked with some brilliant colleagues, been involved in the biggest stories and had a lot of fun along the way.

"Now the time's right for a change, to revisit my first love of writing, to give something back to journalism by helping the next generation of reporters, and to have the space to spend more time with my wonderful family," said Smith.

He said he would continue in the role until June.

Hayley Valentine said he had "steered the newsroom through some huge stories".

She added: "He has transformed our digital news offer, overseen the growth of our award-winning investigations department, and most recently launched a suite of new content focused on reaching diverse audiences in different ways."