Former Google chief emerges as front runner for BBC Director General

Reports surface as two women rule themselves out the race

Matt Brittin, former Google EMEA President, has emerged as the leading candidate to become the next BBC Director General amid ongoing legal and strategic challenges facing the broadcaster.

Former Google EMEA President Matt Brittin is being talked up as the next BBC Director General, according to reports. The reports have emerged as two highly qualified women apparently ruled themselves out of the running.

The Director General position became vacant last November, when Tim Davie resigned following the controversy over a Panorama episode which contained a misleading edit of a speech made by President Trump on January 6^th, 2021. The edit led President Trump to sue the BBC – legal action that is still ongoing.

Brittin, who was part of the Team GB Olympic rowing team in 1988, left Google last year for a “mini gap year” after a tenure lasting the best part of twenty years. He was appointed a CBE earlier this year for services to technology and serves as a NED on The Guardian board.

One person with knowledge of the process told The Times that Brittin was the “prime candidate” for the high profile, but controversial role.

“He is a very plausible contender,” the person said. “His big challenge will be to convince Samir Shah [the BBC chair] that he understands public service broadcasting. His background is all in tech - and big tech is the enemy of the BBC.”

Last year, YouTube, which is owned by Google, overtook the BBC on one measurement to become the country’s most-watched service.

Nonetheless, if Brittin is announced as the new DG, he’s going to need to utilise some different skills to those he likely honed at Google.

Brittin’s potential candidacy seems to have emerged after two women, both with long and successful track-records in broadcasting, ruled themselves out.

Jay Hunt, an Apple TV Executive who has previously held high profile roles at the BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5 developed shows like Sherlock for the BBC and then poached GBBO when she was at Channel 4. Hunt went on bring Slow Horses to Apple TV which has also been a huge hit.

Hunt was approached by head-hunters for the role but chose not to pursue the opportunity, for which many industry insiders apparently considered her an ideal candidate.

Former Channel 4 Chief Executive Alex Mahon also ruled herself out of the running because Davie’s resignation came too soon after beginning her new role as CEO at an events company.

The extent of Brittin’s keenness to interrupt his gap year to take up the DG role is unknown. It’s a highly politicised role, and whomever takes over from Tim Davie is going to pick up negotiations over the future of the licence fee, face the ongoing legal action from Trump, find some £600m of cost savings and yet also compete to develop new shows against the considerably deeper pocketed Netflix, Disney and Apple TV.

Tim Davie will remain in-post until Spring, when the announcement of his successor is expected.