A senior BBC board member has stepped down, citing significant failures in the broadcaster's governance during a period of major leadership upheaval.
Resignation Over Governance Failures
Shumeet Banerji announced his resignation from the BBC Board on Friday 21 November 2025, delivering a blow to the corporation's stability. In his resignation letter, Banerji revealed he had been deliberately sidelined from crucial discussions concerning the departures of two of the BBC's most senior figures.
The board member, who had served as a non-executive director since 2022, expressed particular concern that he was 'not consulted' about the circumstances leading to the resignations of Director General Tim Davie and BBC News chief executive Deborah Turness.
BBC's Response and Replacement Search
A BBC spokesperson confirmed the departure, stating: 'Shumeet Banerji today notified the BBC Board of his resignation. Mr Banerji's term on the Board as a non-executive director was due to end at the end of December and we thank him for his service.'
The corporation moved quickly to address the vacancy, revealing that the search for Banerji's replacement is 'already well under way' with further updates promised in due course.
Implications for BBC Leadership
This resignation comes at a particularly challenging time for the BBC, which is navigating multiple high-profile leadership changes simultaneously. The departure of both the Director General and the BBC News chief executive had already created a power vacuum at the top of the organisation.
Banerji's decision to leave early, coupled with his explicit criticism of the BBC's governance structures, raises serious questions about the broadcaster's decision-making processes and internal communications during this turbulent period.
The timing is especially significant given that his term was scheduled to conclude naturally at the end of December, suggesting his concerns about governance issues were substantial enough to warrant immediate action.
