By Alex Farber
Publication Date: 2026-02-23 20:45:00
A former Google boss has emerged as a dark horse to become the next BBC director-general after two frontrunners ruled themselves out of contention.
Matt Brittin, 57, is being increasingly talked up by industry insiders as the successor to Tim Davie, who resigned in November after a misleading Panorama edit of a speech by President Trump.
Multiple sources have linked Brittin to the job since his departure from Google last year after almost two decades.
The Apple TV executive Jay Hunt and the former Channel 4 chief executive Alex Mahon are understood to have ruled themselves out of the race, having previously been considered frontrunners.
Both are believed to have been approached by headhunters but ultimately opted not to pursue the opportunity. It has led some to suggest the recruitment process was flawed and has become mired in confusion.
Alex Mahon
LUCY YOUNG FOR THE TIMES
However, BBC insiders sought to play down the significance of the dropouts. They remain confident that a strong…
