Garth Ancier, who at 51 boasts one of the longest résumés in show business, has decided to step down as president of BBC Worldwide America, the commercial cable arm of the BBC in the U.S. effective next March. In announcing his departure, BBC Worldwide said in London that during his three-year tenure Ancier was responsible for boosting BBC Worldwide America's profits by 78 percent, launching BBC World News America, and expanding the cable channel's distribution to 65 million homes. A news release quoted Ancier as saying, "We have achieved a great deal over the past three years, but now feels the right time to transition to a new role." Ancier has played numerous roles in the entertainment business, starting out at the age of 21 as manager of east-coast development for NBC, then earning a reputation as an entertainment industry wunderkind when he became president of Fox by age 29. He has also held top posts at NBC, Turner Broadcasting, The WB, and was responsible for launching The Ricki Lake Show, which at one point threatened to topple Oprah Winfrey as TV's top afternoon talk show.