The BBC on Wednesday named Matt Brittin, a former Google executive with no television or journalism experience, as its next director general.
The appointment to the high-profile role comes as the unopposed British broadcaster faces major changes in the media landscape and a $10 billion lawsuit brought by US President Donald Trump.
“The BBC board has today appointed Matt Brittin as the BBC’s 18th director-general. Matt, formerly president of Google EMEA, will take up the role on May 18,” the BBC said in a statement.
BBC chairman Samir Shah said: “Matt brings to the BBC deep experience of leading a high-profile and complex organization through change.”
Brittin’s name has been circulating in the British media for weeks, after the current director-general, Tim Davie, resigned in November over the editing of the film about Trump.
The Times daily wrote before Brittin’s appointment that appointing a chief executive with no direct experience of television or journalism would be a “dramatic change” and “raise eyebrows”.
