BBC expected to name Matt Brittin as director general this week

Matt Brittin is expected to be named as the BBC’s next director general within days, with the broadcaster's board set to meet on Thursday to make a decision.

The appointment will replace the BBC's outgoing leader, Tim Davie.

Brittin, who led Google in Europe, the Middle East and Africa for a decade until stepping down last year, has been the favourite.

The Guardian reports that Brittin has said he has long admired the British television industry; “I’ve been trying to get into for a very long time”.

Brittin added that "what counts as television is now changing...it is now more accurately described as 'storytelling in video'."

The change comes at a time when the BBC leadership has been resisting the prospect of transitioning the station to a subscription or ad-funded service - which would be counter to its stated mission of providing content for everyone.

Who is Matt Brittin?

Brittin was a member of the British Olympic rowing team in 1988, and left Google in 2025 to take a “mini gap year”. He is also a non-executive director of Guardian Media Group.

An avid Doctor Who fan, Brittin says media as a whole is in “an incredible time of disruption” , noting that the “divides across society” are widening.

Tim Davie's surprise resignation last year followed fallout from the way the BBC edited a Donald Trump speech. Trump has since sued the corporation over the Panorama documentary that contained the edit.

Brittin and Davie have long been compared for their similar beliefs; for example, they are both advocates of using advanced technology to help the BBC navigate a rapidly evolving industry.

Brittin has described the rise of AI as “a huge opportunity” for content creation, but acknowledged there more work should be done on the risks “around intellectual property and creativity”.

Top image: Matt Brittin. Image: BBC

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