Matt Brittin confirmed as next BBC Director-General

The Times had initially reported that Brittin would be appointed to the position by the BBC board last week and would be announced after final due diligence checks were complete. The BBC has now confirmed that Brittin will take over the role on 18 May.

Current Director-General Tim Davie is leaving the position next month, having announced his resignation last year over the scandal of Panorama’s misleading edit of President Trump’s speech during the US Capitol riots. Rhodri Talfan Davies, Executive Director of the BBC board, will act as Interim Director-General until Brittin takes up his post.

Brittin joined Google in 2007 as its Managing Director for the UK, rising to become the tech giant’s President for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He left Google in 2024 and has been on a self-professed "gap year" since then.

His appointment will make him the BBC's 18^th Director-General – and the first with no direct experience of television journalism.

Samir Shah, Chairman of the BBC Board, said: “Matt brings to the BBC deep experience of leading a high-profile and highly complex organisation through transformation. He is an outstanding leader and has the skills needed to navigate the organisation through the many changes taking place in the media market and in audience behaviours.

“Matt’s passion for the BBC, his understanding of the challenges facing the organisation, his commitment to its independence and his determination to maintain the BBC’s position as one of the country’s greatest national assets were critical factors in the Board’s decision to appoint him as the 18th Director-General.

“Matt joins the BBC at a critical time. The Government’s review of the Charter is underway, and it is clear there is need for radical reform of the BBC, its funding model and the framework in which it operates. The stakes for the BBC, and the future of public service broadcasting, have never been higher.

“The Board and I believe Matt is the right person to lead the BBC as it fights for a sustainable future in an uncertain world, for the benefit of audiences and the UK.”

Brittin said: “Now, more than ever, we need a thriving BBC that works for everyone in a complex, uncertain and fast changing world. At its best, it shows us, and the world, who we are. It’s an extraordinary, uniquely British asset, with over 100 years of innovation in storytelling, technology and powering creativity. I’m honoured and excited to be asked to serve as Director-General.

“Working alongside so many talented journalists, creatives and technicians, across the country and around the world, I join with humility, to listen, to learn, to lead, and to serve the public, working hard to earn their trust every day.

“This is a moment of real risk, yet also real opportunity. The BBC needs the pace and energy to be both where stories are, and where audiences are. To build on the reach, trust and creative strengths today, confront challenges with courage, and thrive as a public service fit for the future. I can’t wait to start this work.”

Brittin became a leading contender for the BBC role in February 2026 after other candidates, including Jay Hunt of Apple TV and former Channel 4 Chief Executive Alex Mahon, withdrew.

A former rower for Cambridge in the Boat Race and for Great Britain at the Olympics, Brittin will join the BBC as negotiations are underway for its next royal charter.

Recently, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has voiced her support for the BBC’s request to have a permanent charter, rather than one that needs to be reviewed every 10 years.

The Times said that the BBC’s decision to appoint Brittin reflects a belief among its board that it needs to adapt to a media landscape dominated by streaming giants and digital platforms such as YouTube, which recently overtook the broadcaster in some audience metrics.

The BBC Group recently struck a deal to produce new programming for YouTube, in an effort to capture younger viewers. Discover more here.