A former Google executive has been confirmed as the BBC‘s new director-general, it has been reported.
Matt Brittin’s appointment was said to have been approved by the Corporation’s board last week.
Mr Brittin emerged as a dark horse for the role after two leading candidates – Apple TV executive Jay Hunt and former Channel 4 chief Alex Mahon – are understood to have ruled themselves out of contention.
His appointment is expected to be announced this week following due diligence checks, The Times reported.
The 57-year-old is succeeding Tim Davie, who resigned after widespread criticism over a misleading Panorama edit of a Donald Trump speech.
That would make Davie’s interim successor, Rhodri Talfan Davies, the shortest-serving BBC director-general in the national broadcaster’s history.
Mr Brittin left Google last year after 18 years at the tech giant, the last 10 as president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
After stepping down from the tech giant, he had announced plans to take what he called a ‘mini gap year’.
Former Google executive Matt Brittin has been confirmed as the BBC’s new director-general, according to media reports
He said at the time: ‘I hope to apply what I’ve learnt about technology and leadership to help people make the most of this wave of innovation in education, business, science and society – from different vantage points.’
The decision to appoint someone from the world of tech with no direct television experience represents a significant break with tradition for the BBC.
He was part of the British rowing team at the Seoul Olympics in 1988 and could expect a financial package comparable to the £540,000 to £544,999 earned by Mr Davie.
For a man who once admitted he didn’t know how much he was paid, a role leading a public service broadcaster that publishes its managers’ salaries could be perfect.
In 2016, Mr Brittin told MPs on the public accounts committee that he had no idea how much he was paid – while being questioned about a tax deal between HMRC and Google.
Then, in February 2025, after leaving Google Mr Brittin joined Guardian Media Group’s board as a non-executive director.
Davie is said to have spoken favourably about Mr Brittin in the past, though there are some who have reservations about appointing a tech boss to the top job at a content company.
