The BBC Board has appointed former Google executive Matt Brittin as the 18th director-general of the corporation, effective 18 May.
The 57-year-old succeeds Tim Davie, who resigned in November following a controversy regarding a Panorama documentary that featured a misleadingly edited speech by US President Donald Trump. Brittin, who left his role as Google’s president for EMEA in 2025 after nearly two decades at the technology giant, will receive an annual salary of £565,000.
Rhodri Talfan Davies is set to serve as interim director-general from 2 April until Brittin formally assumes his duties. During this transitional period, Brittin will undergo an onboarding process and conduct introductory meetings to familiarise himself with the broadcaster’s operations.
Samir Shah, chairman of the BBC Board, told the BBC that Brittin possesses the skills required to navigate changes in the media market and audience behaviours. Shah noted that the appointment comes at a critical time as the government reviews the Royal Charter, necessitating radical reform of the BBC funding model.
Incoming director-general Matt Brittin told the BBC that the broadcaster is a uniquely British asset with a century of innovation in storytelling and technology. He described the current environment as a moment of real risk and opportunity, adding that he intends to appoint a deputy director-general upon starting the role.
The corporation is currently defending a $10 billion defamation lawsuit filed by US president Donald Trump in Florida, according to Reuters. The legal action alleges that the broadcaster maliciously doctored footage of a speech given on 6 January 2021, though the BBC has argued the claim should be dismissed because the programme never aired in the US.
Brittin must also manage negotiations for a new funding settlement before the current Royal Charter expires at the end of 2027. Reuters reported that lawmakers are currently exploring a mixed funding model that could combine licence-fee income with commercial revenue and subscriptions to compete with streaming platforms.
Former Newsnight editor Peter Barron told the BBC that Brittin is highly motivated by a sense of public service and understands the challenges linked to online misinformation. Barron suggested that Brittin’s connections across the technology industry place him in a strong position to address the power of global streaming services.
