2 hours ago
6
As the fallout over the accusations of bias batters the BBC, the corporation’s chair, Samir Shah, has already raised the need for a “smooth transition” as he kicks off the hunt for a replacement for the outgoing director general, Tim Davie.
With the focus on issues regarding the corporation’s news output there is speculation that Shah, who has 40 years’ experience in TV production and journalism, may look for a candidate with strong experience in the sector.
However, given the scale of the BBC’s sprawling operation, and the need for Davie’s successor to handle tough negotiations with the government over the renewal of the royal charter in 2027, strong commercial credentials will also be a prerequisite.
Here are the leading candidates to replace Davie:
Alex Mahon
Alex Mahon is no stranger to deep cost cuts and restructuring. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA
The former Channel 4 chief executive was approached by the BBC about putting her hat in the ring last time around but she declined to be shortlisted.
Mahon stepped down in the summer having served nearly eight years – the first female chief executive in the broadcaster’s four-decade history – and during her tenure helped fight off the latest government attempt at privatisation.
No stranger to deep cost cuts and restructuring, including moving to sell Channel 4’s London HQ, the 52-year-old has also dealt with crises including the Russell Brand scandal and a threat to review the broadcaster’s remit after the channel decided to replace the then prime minister, Boris Johnson, with a melting ice sculpture during a climate change debate.
The question is whether the attraction of becoming the BBC’s first female director general may be enough to leave her new role as chief executive of Superstruct, the private equity-owned live entertainment company behind events including Cornwall’s Boardmasters festival.
Charlotte Moore
Charlotte Moore has a record of delivering hit shows. Photograph: Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock for Edinburgh TV Festival
The BBC’s highly rated former director of content, who controlled a budget of £1bn and delivered hit shows including The Great British Bake Off, Bodyguard and Luther, made the four-strong shortlist last time around.
However, the 57-year-old, who ultimately lost out to Davie, has just taken up the role of chief executive at Sony Pictures-owned Left Bank, the maker of shows including The Crown.
Jay Hunt
Jay Hunt worked for two decades at the BBC. Photograph: Felix Clay
Hunt, the creative director for worldwide video and Europe for Apple’s streaming service, has held top roles at the BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5.
While at Channel 4, Hunt masterminded the poaching of The Great British Bake Off from the BBC and at Apple she has been responsible for hits including Slow Horses.
Hunt, 58, spent two decades at the BBC in positions including daytime controller at BBC One and BBC Two, working as an editor for the Six O’Clock and One O’Clock News, as well as controller of BBC One, the biggest linear TV channel in the UK.
Carolyn McCall
Carolyn McCall has spent almost eight bruising years at ITV. Photograph: François Lenoir/Reuters
The ITV executive is in the early stages of exploring a potential £1.6bn approach to sell the broadcaster’s TV arm to Sky’s parent company, Comcast, and many in the industry have speculated that she has been waiting for a “win” for investors to cap her tenure.
McCall was one of a number of highly qualified female candidates approached about participating in the previous recruitment process.
However, after almost eight bruising years at ITV the 64-year-old may not be keen for more of the same at the BBC.
Other possible candidates
Candidates previously approached included Jane Turton, the head of All3Media, the production group behind shows ranging from Call the Midwife to Gogglebox; and Sophie Turner Laing, the former senior Sky executive and former boss of the production group behind shows including Broadchurch and Black Mirror.
However, Turner Laing, who now chairs the National Film & Television School’s board of governors, has not held a senior executive position at a big media company for five years.
The “maverick option” on the shortlist in 2020 was Will Lewis, the former chief executive of the Wall Street Journal parent Dow Jones and current boss of the Washington Post.
However, allegations about Lewis’s role in the phone-hacking scandal during his time at News UK, which he strongly denies, make him too high-risk an appointment at the corporation if he were to show any interest.
The fourth candidate to make the shortlist was Doug Gurr, the New Zealand-born former head of Amazon’s UK and Ireland operation. In January, Gurr was appointed as the interim chair of the UK competition regulator.
