BBC Hires Former Google Leader Matt Brittin as New Director General
The BBC is poised to appoint Matt Brittin, a former executive at Google, as its next director general, according to sources within the UK broadcaster. This decision could be confirmed as early as next week, following a report by The Guardian on Wednesday, which indicated Brittin’s candidacy has gained momentum. The Times of London first disclosed his name as a frontrunner last month.
Discussions around Brittin’s potential appointment have intensified in recent weeks, with insiders weighing the advantages and disadvantages of selecting a leader with a background in technology but no direct experience in broadcasting.
Brittin’s career spans 18 years at Google, where he rose to the position of president for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He left the tech giant last year, taking what his LinkedIn profile describes as a “gap year.” During this time, he has focused on reading and athletic pursuits, previously representing Team GB in the 1989 World Rowing Championships.
His candidacy has been bolstered by the recent withdrawal of four strong female candidates: Jay Hunt, Apple TV’s creative director in Europe; former Channel CEO Alex Mahon; Charlotte Moore, the ex-BBC content chief now leading Left Bank Pictures; and Jane Turton, CEO of All3Media.
Tim Davie, who announced his resignation in November following controversy over a misleadingly edited Donald Trump documentary, will officially step down early next month. In the interim, Rhodri Talfan Davies is leading the BBC as the acting director general.
Brittin’s upcoming term will present challenges as the BBC navigates a media landscape increasingly dominated by tech giants and faces scrutiny from conservative politicians and media owners eager to downsize the organization during its charter renewal. The BBC also confronts ongoing legal issues stemming from the edited Panorama segment that precipitated Davie’s exit.
One insider commented on Brittin’s anticipated transition, suggesting it may be a “big culture shock,” noting the stark financial differences between the BBC and Google. Given the BBC’s public service obligations, audiences expect no budget cuts. Additionally, concerns about Brittin’s lack of editorial experience have intensified calls for the appointment of a deputy director general to oversee content-related matters.
Despite these concerns, Brittin has experience serving on the board of The Guardian and the Media Trust, and he has worked in digital capacities at Trinity Mirror plc, now known as Reach. His engagement with the media extends beyond management, as he expressed his fondness for Doctor Who in a speech to the Royal Television Society last year.
