[1] Ray joined the BBC in CEEFAX in 1987 and moved on to work as a producer on the Nine O'Clock News under the editorship of Mark Thompson.
In the UK, he was in charge of the field operation for the resignation of Margaret Thatcher, as well as numerous IRA bombings.
In 1996 he was asked to merge the Newsgathering operations of the World Service and the domestic News and Current Affairs, becoming World News Editor, the first person to take charge of the BBC's entire foreign newsgathering operations.
Influenced by the deaths and injuries of colleagues—he was with Martin Bell in Sarajevo when he was injured—Vin was instrumental in helping introduce safety equipment, courses and counselling services across the industry.
In 1999, as Executive Editor, he was asked to look at improving the storytelling skills of the BBC's reporters and correspondents.