Finance
Former Google Executive Matt Brittin Confirmed as BBC Director-General, the Times Reports
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 23, 2026
1 min readLast updated: March 23, 2026
Quick Summary
Former Google Europe chief Matt Brittin is reportedly confirmed as the BBC’s next director‑general after leading Google's operations in EMEA until early 2025 and receiving a CBE for digital services.
Former Google executive Matt Brittin named new BBC director-general, The Times reports
Matt Brittin's Appointment as BBC Director-General
Confirmation and Announcement Details
March 22 (Reuters) - Former Google executive Matt Brittin has been confirmed as the BBC's new director-general, the Times reported on Sunday, citing sources.
Brittin's appointment was approved by the BBC board at a meeting on Thursday, with an official announcement expected this week, the report said.
Verification and Response
Reuters could not immediately verify the report. BBC did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.
Background on BBC Leadership Changes
Interim Leadership Plans
In January, BBC said Director-General Tim Davie would step down on April 2 and be temporarily succeeded by Rhodri Talfan Davies, the broadcaster's director of nations, until a permanent replacement is appointed.
Resignation of Tim Davie
Reasons for Resignation
Davie announced his resignation in November following criticism of the British corporation's news service over the misleading editing of a video clip of U.S. President Donald Trump.
(Reporting by Angela Christy in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Sumana Nandy)
Key Takeaways
- •Brittin, who led Google in EMEA until 2025, is now the BBC’s confirmed next director‑general, per The Times report
- •His selection follows the resignation of Tim Davie in November 2025 amid editorial bias controversy, with an interim head in place since April 2026 (journalism.co.uk)
- •Brittin brings deep tech and digital transformation experience, a CBE for services to technology, but faces scrutiny over his lack of direct broadcasting or editorial background (robinson.cam.ac.uk)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Former Google executive Matt Brittin confirmed as BBC director-general, The Times reports
1Who has been appointed as the new BBC director-general?
Former Google executive Matt Brittin has been confirmed as the BBC's new director-general.
2Which publication reported Matt Brittin's BBC appointment?
The Times reported Matt Brittin's appointment as the BBC's new director-general.
3Did Reuters independently verify Matt Brittin's appointment?
Reuters could not immediately verify Matt Brittin's appointment as reported by The Times.
4What is Matt Brittin's professional background?
Matt Brittin is a former executive at Google.