Matt Brittin, the former president of Google’s European, Middle East and Africa operations, has been appointed as the BBC’s 18th Director-General, taking up the role on 18 May following an interim period under Rhodri Talfan Davies from 2 April.
The 57-year-old Cambridge alumnus spent nearly two decades at Google after beginning his career as a McKinsey consultant, rising to lead the technology giant’s operations across three continents before announcing his departure last year. He will receive a salary of £565,000 in the role and has said he will also be appointing a Deputy Director-General.
Brittin replaces Tim Davie, who announced his resignation in November last year alongside BBC News chief executive Deborah Turness, following controversy over the editing of a Panorama programme featuring a Donald Trump speech. Davie had held the post since 2020.
Samir Shah, Chairman of the BBC Board, described Brittin as “an outstanding leader” with the skills to navigate the organisation through significant changes in the media landscape and audience behaviour. He acknowledged that Brittin was joining “at a critical time,” with the Government’s review of the BBC’s Royal Charter under way and the need for what he described as “radical reform of the BBC, its funding model and the framework in which it operates.”
Brittin said he was “honoured and excited” to take on the role, describing the BBC as “an extraordinary, uniquely British asset” with more than a century of innovation behind it. “Now, more than ever, we need a thriving BBC that works for everyone in a complex, uncertain and fast-changing world,” he said.
Beyond his business career, Brittin has a distinguished sporting background. He was selected for the British Olympic rowing team at the 1988 Seoul Games and won a bronze medal at the World Rowing Championships the following year. He also represented his university in the Boat Race in 1987, 1988 and 1989. Earlier this year he was appointed a CBE in the King’s New Year Honours for services to technology and digital skills.
