The BBC is expected to hire former Google executive Matt Brittin as its next director general, according to insiders at the UK broadcaster.
The Guardian reported on Wednesday that Brittin could be confirmed as Tim Davie‘s replacement as early as next week. The Times of London was first to report on his candidacy last month.
Deadline sources corroborated these reports. The BBC declined to comment on “speculation” regarding an ongoing recruitment process.
Rumors have been rife for weeks about Brittin’s appointment, with insiders pondering the pros and cons of bringing in a director general with tech credentials, but zero broadcasting experience.
A former McKinsey & Company consultant, Brittin spent 18 years at Google, rising to become the tech titan’s president in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
He left Google last year to embark on what his LinkedIn describes as a “gap year,” in which he has spent time reading and running. A “part-time athlete,” he represented Team GB in the 1989 World Rowing Championships.
BBC insiders said Brittin’s candidacy has been strengthened by the paucity of other candidates, with four strong female contenders all dropping out of the race.
These included Jay Hunt, Apple TV’s creative director in Europe; former Channel CEO Alex Mahon; Charlotte Moore, the ex-BBC content chief who now leads The Crown producer Left Bank Pictures; and Jane Turton, All3Media’s chief executive.
Davie, who dramatically quit in November over a misleadingly edited Donald Trump documentary, formally steps down early next month. He is currently handing over to Rhodri Talfan Davies, who is now leading meetings as the BBC’s interim director general.
Davie’s successor will inherit an organization wrestling with its place in a media ecosystem dominated by overseas tech giants, as well as battling enemies closer to home, with conservative politicians and media proprietors wishing to see the BBC diminished during charter renewal. There is also the small matter of a legal fight with the U.S. president over the botched Panorama edit that triggered Davie’s resignation.
Commenting on Brittin’s prospective hire, one insider anticipates that the role will be a “big culture shock” for the executive. “Compared to Google there is no money whatsoever, and [the] BBC is highly regulated. As a public service, BBC audiences expect no cuts,” this person said.
His lack of editorial experience has also been flagged as a potential issue. It has amplified calls for the BBC to hire a deputy director general, who could lead on content matters.
Brittin has, however, served on the board of The Guardian and the Media Trust, while he also worked in digital at Trinity Mirror plc, the newspaper group now known as Reach. In a speech to the Royal Television Society last year, he spoke about his love of Doctor Who.
