2 months ago
The BBC is expected to prosecute erstwhile Google executive Matt Brittin arsenic its adjacent head general, according to insiders astatine nan UK broadcaster.
The Guardian reported connected Wednesday that Brittin could beryllium confirmed arsenic Tim Davie‘s replacement arsenic early arsenic adjacent week. The Times of London was first to study connected his candidacy past month.
Deadline sources corroborated these reports. The BBC declined to remark connected “speculation” regarding an ongoing recruitment process.
Rumors person been rife for weeks astir Brittin’s appointment, pinch insiders pondering nan pros and cons of bringing successful a head wide pinch tech credentials, but zero broadcasting experience.
A erstwhile McKinsey & Company consultant, Brittin spent 18 years astatine Google, rising to go nan tech titan’s president successful Europe, nan Middle East, and Africa.
He near Google past twelvemonth to embark connected what his LinkedIn describes arsenic a “gap year,” successful which he has spent clip reference and running. A “part-time athlete,” he represented Team GB successful nan 1989 World Rowing Championships.
BBC insiders said Brittin’s candidacy has been strengthened by nan paucity of different candidates, pinch 4 beardown female contenders each dropping retired of nan race.
These included Jay Hunt, Apple TV’s imaginative head successful Europe; erstwhile Channel CEO Alex Mahon; Charlotte Moore, nan ex-BBC contented main who now leads The Crown shaper Left Bank Pictures; and Jane Turton, All3Media’s main executive.
Davie, who dramatically discontinue successful November complete a misleadingly edited Donald Trump documentary, formally steps down early adjacent month. He is presently handing complete to Rhodri Talfan Davies, who is now starring meetings arsenic nan BBC’s interim head general.
Davie’s successor will inherit an statement wrestling pinch its spot successful a media ecosystem dominated by overseas tech giants, arsenic good arsenic battling enemies person to home, pinch blimpish politicians and media proprietors wishing to spot nan BBC diminished during charter renewal. There is besides nan mini matter of a ineligible conflict pinch nan U.S. president complete nan botched Panorama edit that triggered Davie’s resignation.
Commenting connected Brittin’s prospective hire, 1 insider anticipates that nan domiciled will beryllium a “big civilization shock” for nan executive. “Compared to Google location is nary money whatsoever, and [the] BBC is highly regulated. As a nationalist service, BBC audiences expect nary cuts,” this personification said.
His deficiency of editorial acquisition has besides been flagged arsenic a imaginable issue. It has amplified calls for nan BBC to prosecute a lawman head general, who could lead connected contented matters.
Brittin has, however, served connected nan committee of The Guardian and nan Media Trust, while he besides worked successful integer astatine Trinity Mirror plc, nan newspaper group now known arsenic Reach. In a reside to nan Royal Television Society past year, he said astir his emotion of Doctor Who.
