I have a strong track record in journalism and as a broadcaster and communicator, and thoroughly enjoyed my career as a BBC correspondent.  I consider myself privileged and lucky to have had such a great job. I am at the top of my career but have now decided to look for fresh and stimulating challenges which will exploit my skills over the next decade, hence my exciting decision to broaden my horizons and take on a series of longer term, and arguably more influential challenges in the private and public sectors.   

I am naturally inquisitive, highly driven, always thinking laterally to see if there is anything that I am missing, always questioning.  I can rapidly assimilate lengthy and complex arguments and reports, reduce them to their essence at great speed, and analyse and test their merits.  I have proven communication skills, on television, via the written word and via public speaking.  Having covered some of the toughest and most sensitive assignments for the BBC, I am used to working under conditions of great stress to the tightest of deadlines, both on my own and while leading a team. 

I frequently meet, speak to and interview Government ministers, their special advisers and top civil servants, in Downing Street, the Home Office, the Department for Constitutional Affairs and other departments.  I have a deep and intimate knowledge of how the government, police, the judiciary and legal profession operate.   I meet and am briefed by senior judges and police and intelligence officers.I have travelled the world extensively and have interviewed many prominent leaders. Those I have interviewed in the UK include all recent Prime Ministers and Home Secretaries.

My particular areas of expertise and interest are terrorism, security, the media, and environmental and food safety issues.  I have a developed sense of how the media will play stories and what they will seize on – and of how the public and the government will react. The BBC demanded the highest levels of independence and integrity – qualities I hope I will now bring to my new ventures.

Read Margaret's leaving article for the BBC in-house news magazine...