On Tuesday Mette Bock, (photo) head of programmes and production at the Danish public broadcaster DR announced that she was stepping down after less than two years in her job. Her departure is part of an overall managerial revamping at DR's production department that is costing the jobs to 40 people or 20 percent of senior staff.

For the Danish broadcasting corporation, the slimming down of its senior management - to be implemented early 2010 - is not part of a savings plan but a new strategy to strengthen in-house productions, speed up decision-making and improve internal relations within the company.

Four new directors will be appointed to head the four new production departments DR Nyheder (news production for radio and television), DR Oplysning (documentary, science, debates, education), DR Danmark (DR regional production plus children and youth programmes and lifestyle) and DR Kultur (drama, music, literature and arts). The future four top executives will answer directly to DR's Board and will become key members of the broadcaster's management.

"DR has to get ready for many new and important challenges and to meet those challenges as best as possible, changes in the organisation had been looming for quite a while, said Kenneth Plummer, DR general director. "DR Medier will focus on DR's overall programme strategy and channels, and the new production departments will be responsible for content strategy."