Ben Stephenson, the BBC drama chief responsible for Sherlock, Call the Midwife, Poldark and Wolf Hall, is joining US film-maker JJ Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions.
Stephenson, who has led BBC drama since 2008, is the most powerful TV drama executive in the UK and his departure later this year will end an 11-year stint at the corporation.
He will be head of television at Bad Robot, which makes TV shows including CBS sci-fi crime drama Person of Interest and is making a TV version of Michael Crichton’s Westworld.
Its previous TV series have included Alias and Lost, along with a film slate that includes the Mission Impossible franchise and the latest reincarnation of Star Trek.
Stephenson has been credited with overseeing a revival of drama on BBC2 with hits including The Fall, Line of Duty, Peaky Blinders and The Honourable Woman.
His other BBC1 shows have included Happy Valley, The Missing and Luther, some of the 450 hours of TV drama Stephenson oversaw across the BBC.
Stephenson said: “Running BBC drama has been an honour – it’s the most fun job in British TV.
“Whilst it’s a massive wrench to leave I cannot wait to begin a new adventure in LA with JJ. I have long admired his work and am thrilled to be joining the Bad Robot family.”
The BBC’s drama output has had an ever higher profile in the US in recent years, both on BBC America, with shows such as Sherlock and Doctor Who, and as a co-producer joining forces with US partners such as HBO and Starz.
The BBC’s director of television Danny Cohen said: “Ben has made a truly extraordinary impact on the British drama industry in the last few years.
“The quality, range and ambition of BBC drama is testament to his creative power, strategic thinking and immense passion for great writing. The BBC owes Ben a great debt of gratitude and I will miss him greatly, personally and professionally.”
The BBC said it would begin the hunt for a successor immediately.