James is Head of Future Media & Technology for BBC Audio & Music Interactive.

James contributes to the development of pan-BBC non-linear/new mediastrategy and provides strategic focus for new media technology withinBBC Audio & Music. He is also a Trustee of the pan-industry bodyThe Radio Academy, and is Chairman of its Radio At The Edge conference.

James has worked in radio since 1989 as a copywriter, presenter, andinternet advisor. After working at the Metro Radio Group and EmapRadio, he left to concentrate on his own dot-com company, Media UK, fora while before joining Virgin Radio in 2001, where he was Digital MediaDirector. In 2007 he joined BBC Audio & Music Interactive, thedivision that looks after new media activities across BBC nationalradio networks, and music output across the BBC.

James is an award-winning copywriter and radio presenter. In 2005,Virgin Radio's website scooped both judged and people's choice awardsin the Webby Awards radio category. In September 2006, under James'sdirection the station redesigned its website to boast an innovativemusic-based social-networking system, which delivered record trafficlevels and improved audience retention.

James lives in North London with a big black cat, and is a committedmember of the Campaign for Real Ale. He blogs about the future ofradio, and beer, on his own website at james.cridland.net.