Former Google executive Matt Brittin is set to become the new CEO of the BBC: what is known about him
26 March 12:16
Matt Brittin, a former Google executive, has been appointed as the new director-general of the BBC.
The former president of Google in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa will replace Tim Davie, according to "Komersant Ukrainian", citing the BBC.
Davie announced his resignation in November following a heated debate over how the TV program Panorama edited a speech by Donald Trump.
Brittin left Google in 2025 after 18 years with the company. He, says BBC Chairman Samir Shah, “will bring to the BBC deep experience in leading a well-known and highly complex organization during a period of transformation.”
Brittin said he “looks forward to starting this role,” which he described as “a moment of real risk, but also real opportunity.”
“This is an extraordinary, uniquely British institution with over 100 years of experience in innovation in storytelling, technology, and creative development. It is a great honor and joy for me to have been invited to take on the role of Director-General,” said Brittin.
“The BBC needs momentum and energy to be both where the stories are happening and where the audience is. To build reach, trust, and creative strengths today, we must boldly face the challenges.”
“Radical reform”
Shah called Brittin an outstanding leader who possesses “the skills necessary to steer the organization through the numerous changes taking place in the media market and in audience behavior.”
“Matt’s passion for the BBC, his understanding of the challenges facing the organization, his commitment to its independence, and his determination to preserve the BBC’s position as one of the nation’s greatest national treasures were decisive factors in the Board’s decision to appoint him as the 18th Director-General,” he continued.
According to him, Brittin is joining the BBC at a critical time, when it is clear that “radical reform of the BBC, its funding model, and its structure” is needed.
“The stakes for the BBC and the future of public service broadcasting have never been higher,” Shah explained.
The top job at the BBC is considered one of the most demanding in the media.
During Davie’s tenure as the BBC’s 17th Director-General, he was responsible for resolving a series of crises within the corporation.
Following the Panorama scandal, Donald Trump filed a multi-billion-pound defamation lawsuit against the BBC, and handling it will be one of Brittin’s priorities in her new role.
Trump objects to how Panorama edited two parts of his speech on January 6, 2021, for which the BBC has apologized.
The corporation has asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that the episode was never broadcast in the U.S.
The BBC at a Crossroads
The new director-general is taking office at a crucial time for the BBC for other reasons as well.
He will continue negotiations with the government regarding the future of the license fee and BBC funding, as well as the corporation’s Royal Charter.
The current charter, which defines the terms and objectives of the BBC’s existence, remains in effect until 2027.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy recently stated that she is committed to granting the BBC a permanent charter, which, she said, will ensure the BBC’s prosperity in the second half of the century.
Brittain’s appointment also comes at a time when the BBC is competing with tech giants in the digital media market.
Google’s parent company owns YouTube, with which the BBC recently announced a landmark deal to create content tailored to the company’s needs.
Is experience in the tech sector a bonus?
BBC media editor Katie Razzall recently wrote that people at Google “have nothing but good things to say about Brittin—as an inspiring leader and a great team player.”
Some have questioned the BBC’s decision to appoint someone with a background in technology rather than civil service or traditional editorial experience.
But Razzall noted: “The BBC Board selected him for his deep knowledge of major tech companies. He is expected to drive the acceleration of digital development, for example, in news. He is also likely to focus on the transformation and innovation of BBC iPlayer.”
Former BBC Newsnight editor Peter Barron, who worked with Brittin at Google, said he is “deeply motivated by a sense of public service.”
“He loves the BBC for its reliable news and its creativity, but he is also very aware of its history as a technological pioneer.”
According to Barron, Brittin wants the BBC to thrive in a world where many of its biggest challenges are technology-related, whether it’s the impact of streaming services, online misinformation, or simply how people want to consume content.
Who is Matt Brittin
Brittin was born in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, and graduated from the University of Cambridge.
He was passionate about rowing, including representing Great Britain and winning a bronze medal at the 1989 World Rowing Championships.
After graduating from Cambridge, Brittin pursued a master’s degree at the London Business School. He then became commercial director and director of strategy and digital technology at Trinity Mirror (now known as Reach plc), a major British media company.
He joined Google in 2007 and became the UK operations director two years later. In 2011, he was promoted to vice president for Northern and Central Europe.
In 2014, Brittin became President of Google in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
After leaving Google last year, he took what he described as a “mini-break.”
Describing how he spends his free time, he wrote on LinkedIn: “I’ve already grown a beard, bought a rowboat, and plan to learn scuba diving from my son once he gets his instructor’s certification.”
Last year, Brittin also became a non-executive director of the Guardian Media Group.
In January 2026, he was awarded the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) during the King’s New Year Honours for his contributions to technology and digital skills.
“My experience of watching television and learning from television and its values has shaped me more than almost anything else in my life,” he told the Royal Television Society last year.
In his previous role, Brittin faced tough questions regarding Google’s tax payments in the UK.
He defended the company in heated debates with members of Parliament in 2012 and 2013 over whether it was paying enough taxes.
The dispute led to the introduction of the so-called Google tax, and in 2016, the company agreed to pay £130 million in back taxes as part of a deal the government called a “victory,” though critics derided it.
That same year, during another appearance before members of Parliament, Brittin faced a vote of no confidence when he told lawmakers he did not know how much he was being paid.
In his new role at the BBC, he will face fresh questioning from parliamentary committees, something Davie dealt with repeatedly during his tenure.
Brittin now has two months left of his break; he will begin work at the BBC on May 18.
