The current head of Africa and Middle East region, Barry Langridge, will become head of the Asia and Pacific region. He was previously a diplomat in Africa. He has lived in India, working in a village health project, and as Christian Aid's project officer for Pakistan, Northern India and Bangladesh. During his BBC career Barry has also worked as a television current affairs producer. He was appointed Head of Africa and Middle East region in 1997.

Behrouz Afagh-Tabrizi has been appointed Head of Eurasia region. The region encompasses Russia, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Central Asia and the Caucasus. Behrouz was born and brought up in Iran and has lived in Britain since 1978. He joined the BBC Persian Service in 1983 and later became editor. In 1994 he set up the BBC Central Asian Service and was its head until 1999, when he was appointed news and current affairs editor for the Eurasia region.

Lucio Mesquita has been appointed Head of the Americas region. He has been acting head of the region since October. Born in Brazil, Lucio joined the Brazilian Service as a producer in 1991. He worked on Newshour and The World Today and became editor of the Brazilian Service in 2000. As Head of the Americas, he is responsible for BBC World Service broadcasts in North, South and Central America, as well as the Caribbean.

Jerry Timmins, the former Head of the Americas, who for the past three months has led the Make It Happen project at BBC World Service, will shortly take up his new post as Head of Africa and Middle East region. Jerry joined the BBC in 1979 as a journalist. In 1988 he was appointed head of a newly re-established Caribbean Service and later joined BBC Television's current affairs programme Newsnight before he returned to BBC World Service in 1992.

All five Heads of Region at BBC World Service are members of the World Service Management Board.