BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra Controller Ben Cooper is leaving the Beeb after an eight-year run, Music Business Worldwide reported.

In September, Lorna Clarke took over as Pop Music Controller, a job many believed would go to Cooper.

Initially at Capital Radio and BBC Radio 1, he was named Deputy Controller of Radio 1 and 1Xtra in 2009 and promoted to Controller in October 2011.

Cooper has been responsible for Radio 1’s digital strategy and terrestrial programming and has grown the channel’s online and social media audience. His departure follows those of numerous high-level executives—among them Zane Lowe and George Ergatoudis—who have moved over to Apple Music’s Beats 1.