BBC Chairman Samir Shah has declared the role of Director-General is "too big for one person," signalling a potential major overhaul of the corporation's leadership structure. This significant statement was made to MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee just hours after the job advertisement for the top position went live on Monday.
A Role in Need of Restructure
The search for a new Director-General was officially launched after Tim Davie announced his resignation earlier this month. The job advert, which appeared on Monday, describes the position as one of "the most important, high-profile public posts in the UK."
Appearing before the parliamentary committee, Mr Shah expressed his firm belief that the BBC's executive team needs reorganisation. "In my view (the role of director-general) is too big for one person," he stated. He further explained that he is "inclined to restructure the executive in the future, once we get a new director."
A key part of this planned restructure involves the appointment of a deputy director-general focused solely on journalism. "The BBC needs to be the beacon of impartial journalism, it absolutely does," Shah emphasised, highlighting the critical need for trust in the coming decade.
Context and Controversy
This is not the first time the BBC has had a deputy director-general. The role was scrapped in 2011 during a period of cutbacks. It was briefly revived in 2016 with the appointment of Anne Bulford, but her responsibilities did not cover journalism, and the position was not filled again after she stepped down in 2019.
Mr Davie's departure follows a period of intense scrutiny for the broadcaster. The final catalyst was a leaked impartiality memo concerning a Panorama episode about Donald Trump. The memo, written by former external adviser Michael Prescott, raised concerns that the documentary selectively edited a speech made by the then-US President before the attack on the US Capitol in 2021.
The BBC subsequently apologised for the edit, which it said created a "mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action." The fallout from this controversy also led to the resignation of BBC News chief executive Deborah Turness.
The Search for a New Leader
The recruitment process for the new Director-General is being managed by the leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder, with a deadline for applications set for December 31.
The job specification does not list a salary, but the BBC's 2024/2025 annual report shows that Tim Davie earned a base salary of £541,000. The corporation is seeking a candidate with experience leading an organisation through "significant change" and the ability to make complex editorial decisions. The ideal candidate must also possess a "strong conviction for public service broadcasting" and be able to cope with the immense pressure that comes with the role.
This leadership vacuum comes after a challenging year for the BBC, which has faced criticism for breaches of its accuracy guidelines and other editorial missteps, underscoring the immense task awaiting the next Director-General.
