Following Tim Davie’s resignation announcement just a day ago, speculation is mounting about who could succeed him in the highest-profile position in British broadcasting.
The director-general role at the BBC is a critical one, serving as both the corporation’s chief executive and its editor-in-chief across television, radio, and online platforms.
Davie, who has been with the BBC for 20 years and has been in charge for the past five, will not be stepping down immediately.
In his departure note to staff, he mentioned that he is «working through exact timings with the board to allow for an orderly transition to a successor over the coming months.»
While it is still early days, here are some of the names being discussed as potential contenders for the role:
Charlotte Moore
Charlotte Moore, the chief executive of Left Bank Pictures, was the chief content officer at the BBC for five years before leaving in the summer.
She was a finalist for the position when Davie was appointed in 2020 and is credited with commissioning shows like The Great British Bake Off.
In March 2023, she received the Royal Television Society Judges Award for her leadership during a significant year for the BBC.
James Harding
James Harding
James Harding, a former editor of the Times and director of BBC News, is now the co-founder and editor of Tortoise Media.
He has advocated for the BBC’s independence in various public appearances and lectures.
Jay Hunt
Jay Hunt. Pic: House of Commons/PA Archive 2025
Jay Hunt currently serves as Apple TV+’s creative director for Europe and is the chair of the British Film Institute.
She has held leadership positions at Channel 4, Channel 5, and BBC One, with notable achievements such as acquiring The Great British Bake Off rights.
At Apple, she has overseen the commissioning of successful shows like Bad Sisters and Slow Horses.
Alex Mahon
Alex Mahon
Alex Mahon, who previously worked at Channel 4 and currently leads Channel 4, has been named as a potential candidate for the BBC director-general position.
Pic: House of Commons/PA Archive 2022
After stepping down as CEO of Channel 4 earlier this year, Alex Mahon, the first woman to lead the broadcaster, has taken on a new role at Superstruct Entertainment, a live entertainment group that owns and operates numerous music festivals in Europe and Australia. Her move was motivated by a more lucrative remuneration package offered by Superstruct compared to Channel 4. Dawn Airey, Channel 4’s interim chair, praised Mahon as a significant figure in British television history.
Dame Carolyn McCall, who has been leading ITV since 2018, is currently in talks with Sky regarding a potential sale of ITV’s media and entertainment division. She has been instrumental in transforming ITV into a successful digital media and global production business.
Sir Trevor Phillips, a well-known businessman and journalist, has been suggested as a potential candidate for a leadership role at Sky News. With a background in journalism and leadership roles in various organizations, Phillips has been recognized for his contributions to equality and human rights.
Within the BBC, Jonathan Munro, the global director of BBC News, and Kate Phillips, the chief content officer, have been mentioned as possible internal candidates for leadership positions. Munro has led news coverage on major stories over the past decade, while Phillips has recently taken on a senior executive role responsible for the BBC’s network TV and radio output.
During the pandemic, she was serving as acting controller of BBC One.
In different circumstances, BBC News chief executive Deborah Turness could have been a potential candidate to replace Davie. However, she announced her resignation alongside his on Sunday night.
As Davie mentioned, he is planning to hand over the reins in the upcoming months.
The BBC Board will appoint his successor, responsible for ensuring that the broadcaster fulfills its mission and public purposes.
Pic: BBC/Guy Levy 2021. Chief executive of Left Bank Pictures, a British independent TV and film production company owned by Sony, Charlotte Moore was chief content officer at the BBC for five years before leaving in the summer. She was among those shortlisted when Davie got the job in 2020 and is known as the mastermind behind the commissioning of The Great British Bake Off. In March 2023, she was awarded the Royal Television Society Judges Award in recognition of her leadership «through one of the most momentous years in [the BBC’s] history and having done so with an exceptional combination of steadfast level-headedness, confidence and creative flair.» «The BBC is an extraordinary place to work,» she said in a statement when her move to Left Bank was announced. «There’s nowhere quite like it that backs risk-taking, innovation and homegrown creativity with such commitment.» – James Harding. A former editor of the Times and director of BBC News, James Harding is the co-founder and editor of slow news venture Tortoise Media, which bought The Observer newspaper in December 2024. Harding called for the BBC to be «put beyond the reach of politicians» in an interview with Sky News before giving the James MacTaggart Memorial Lecture at the Edinburgh TV Festival in the summer. Establishing the independence of the BBC is critical «if we want to build confidence in shared facts and respect for the truth,» he said. – Jay Hunt. Jay Hunt is Apple TV+’s creative director for Europe and was appointed chair of the British Film Institute in 2024. She has previously worked as chief creative officer for Channel 4, director of programmes at Channel 5 and controller of BBC One. Channel 4 was named Channel of the Year at the Edinburgh International Television Festival in 2014 and 2016 under her leadership, and she was known for buying the rights to The Great British Bake Off from the BBC. At Apple, she has overseen commissioning for award-winning shows such as Bad Sisters and Slow Horses. – Alex Mahon. After almost eight years as chief executive of Channel 4 – the first woman in the broadcaster’s history to take the helm – Alex Mahon left the role earlier this year to lead live entertainment group Superstruct Entertainment. Superstruct owns and operates more than 80 music festivals across 10 countries in Europe and Australia, including Boardmasters in Cornwall and Mighty Hoopla. Mahon’s move allowed her to earn a more lucrative remuneration package than the one on offer to her at Channel 4, Sky News City editor Mark Kleinman reported at the time. Dawn Airey, Channel 4 interim chair, described her as a «great figure in British television» and said she had been «one of the most impactful CEOs» since the founding of Channel 4 in 1982. She was the recipient of Variety’s 2020 International Achievement in Television Award and has been honored with an International Royal Industrial Fellowship. – Dame Carolyn McCall. Image: Richard Kendal/RTS 2023
Dame Carolyn McCall has been at the helm of ITV since her arrival in 2018, bringing with her years of experience as the chief executive of easyJet and the Guardian Media Group. Her impressive resume includes being honored as a dame in 2016 for her contributions to the aviation industry and an OBE in 2008 for her work in promoting women in business. According to her biography, she has overseen ITV plc’s transition from a traditional linear organization to a robust digital media, entertainment, and global production business.
Currently, McCall is engaged in preliminary discussions with Sky, the parent company of Sky News, regarding the potential sale of ITV’s media and entertainment division.
Sir Trevor Phillips, a familiar face on Sky News hosting «Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips,» has been mentioned as another potential candidate for a leadership role. With a background in business and journalism, Phillips has been recognized with multiple Royal Television Society journalism awards. Knighted in 2022 for his dedication to equality and human rights, Phillips has held prominent positions such as head of current affairs for London Weekend TV, chair of the Commission for Racial Equality, and president of the John Lewis Partnership Council.
Sky News’s Sir Trevor Phillips has garnered attention as a possible contender for leadership roles in various circles, including political website Guido Fawkes, Times Radio’s Rod Liddle, and journalist Stephen Pollard in The Spectator.
Within the BBC, internal candidates such as Jonathan Munro and Kate Phillips have been suggested as potential successors to current leadership. Munro, who has been instrumental in shaping BBC News coverage over the past decade, serves as the global director of BBC News and deputy chief executive of BBC News and Current Affairs. Kate Phillips, who recently assumed the role of chief content officer, has quickly risen through the ranks within the BBC, previously serving as director of unscripted content and acting controller of BBC One during the pandemic.
As the search for a new leader continues, BBC News chief executive Deborah Turness, who could have been a strong candidate under different circumstances, announced her resignation alongside current BBC director Tim Davie.
Tim Davie has expressed his intention to step down in the coming months, with his successor to be appointed by the BBC Board. The board is responsible for ensuring that the broadcaster fulfills its mission and serves the public interest.
In conclusion, the landscape of media leadership is evolving, with key figures like Carolyn McCall, Sir Trevor Phillips, Jonathan Munro, and Kate Phillips emerging as potential candidates for top roles in prominent media organizations. As the industry adapts to changing technologies and audience preferences, the selection of new leaders will play a crucial role in shaping the future of broadcasting. Charlotte Moore, James Harding, Jay Hunt, and Alex Mahon are the names being discussed as contenders for the BBC director-general position.
Channel 4’s former chief executive, Alex Mahon, recently left her position after nearly eight years to lead Superstruct Entertainment, a live entertainment group that owns and operates numerous music festivals across Europe and Australia.
Her move was motivated by a more lucrative remuneration package at Superstruct compared to Channel 4, as reported by Sky News City editor Mark Kleinman.
Under Mahon’s leadership, Channel 4 saw significant growth and impact, with Dawn Airey, the interim chair, praising her as a key figure in British television and one of the most impactful CEOs in Channel 4’s history.
On the other hand, Dame Carolyn McCall has been leading ITV since 2018, overseeing its transformation into a strong linear and digital media, entertainment, and global production business. She is currently in talks with Sky regarding the potential sale of ITV’s media and entertainment division.
Sir Trevor Phillips, known for his work in journalism and human rights, has also been suggested as a possible candidate for a leadership position. His extensive experience includes roles at various organizations and accolades for his contributions to equality and human rights.
Within the BBC, potential internal candidates for leadership roles include Jonathan Munro, who has been instrumental in leading news coverage at the BBC, and Kate Phillips, who recently took on the role of chief content officer overseeing network TV and radio output.