The former chief executive of Beano Studios Emma Scott, who spent six years transforming the iconic children's comic into a digital entertainment business, has been recruited to lead the NSPCC’s board.

She will join the children’s charity in December and succeeds Neil Berkett, who is stepping down after 15 years at the NSPCC.

Scott also spent a decade at the BBC, as chief of staff for the director general, strategy adviser and launch director of Freeview.

She also spent seven years as chief executive of BBC and ITV joint venture Freesat.

She is currently a non-executive director, adviser and coach including a non-executive role at Which and chairing World Book Day.

“Emma brings a wealth of strategic, brand and digital leadership experience to our team, along with a strong track record of revenue diversification and managing transformational change across complex organisations,” said the NSPCC.

“With a career spanning broadcasting and children’s publishing, she has consistently championed innovation and growth while putting children’s needs and voices at the heart of everything she does, both online and in the real world.”

NSPCC chief executive Chris Sherwood added: “I am very much looking forward to working closely with Emma in the months and years ahead to make an even bigger impact for children and young people”.

Scott said: “It’s a tremendous privilege to be joining this remarkable organisation. I know how much passion, resilience and expertise lives within the NSPCC, across our staff, volunteers, supporters and partners and I want to thank you for everything you do.

“I see the NSPCC’s role as vital, not only in delivering services and support where it is needed most, but in being a strong and influential voice in public life, particularly as children and young people’s worlds now straddle the digital as well as physical.

"Our mission is bold, and rightly so — we are here to keep children safe, to stand with young people, and to ensure that abuse has no place in any child’s story.”

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