Timothy Douglas DavieCBE (born 25 April 1967) is a British media executive currently serving as the seventeenth Director-General of the BBC since 1 September 2020,[1][2] taking over from Tony Hall. He was previously appointed as the acting director-general of the BBC on 10 November 2012 following the resignation of George Entwistle,[3][4] until Hall took over the role permanently in April 2013.
Educated at Whitgift School and the University of Cambridge, Davie joined the BBC following a career in marketing. He unsuccessfully stood as a candidate for the Conservative Party in 1993 and 1994 in the Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council elections. During his time as acting director-general he oversaw the investigations into BBC management and conduct following revelations the broadcaster had known about sexual abuse by Jimmy Savile.[5] During Davie's time at the BBC, the organization which he runs has been described as "institutionally antisemitic" by the Corporation's former Director of Television.
Davie joined the BBC as Director of Marketing, Communications and Audiences in April 2005,[12] succeeding Andy Duncan.[13] He was Director-General Mark Thompson's first senior external appointment.
In June 2008, it was announced that he was replacing Jenny Abramsky, who served at the BBC for 39 years before leaving to chair the Heritage Lottery Fund. Appointed Director of Audio & Music, he sat on the BBC's Executive Board with overall responsibility for all of the BBC's national radio networks and the corporation's music output across all media. This included BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4; as well as the BBC digital radio stations BBC Asian Network, BBC Radio 1Xtra, BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Radio 4 Extra (then BBC 7); the three BBC Orchestras based in England; and The Proms. During this time he was involved in abandoned plans to close down Radio 6 Music and the Asian Network.[13] In July 2009 he was on The Guardian's list of the 100 most influential people in the media.[14]
Davie took over as acting Director-General on 11 November 2012 following the resignation of George Entwistle in the wake of the Newsnight broadcast which did not name any individual but which led to Internet speculation which incorrectly identified ConservativeLord McAlpine in the North Wales child abuse case.[15] He became chief executive officer of BBC Worldwide following the appointment of Tony Hall. BBC Worldwide merged with the TV-making arm of the BBC, BBC Studios, in April 2018 and Davie served as both the Chief Executive of BBC Studios and a Director globally.[16]
In January 2020, Tony Hall announced he was resigning from the Director-General's position before the scheduled end of his tenure.[19][20] In May 2020, Davie was one of four candidates shortlisted to succeed Hall in the position.[21] On 5 June 2020, it was announced he would become the corporation's seventeenth Director-General from 1 September.[1][2]
In September 2020, appearing before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Davie justified the salary of BBC's highest paid star Gary Lineker saying the salary was worth it because of the value of analysis to the viewing audience.[22]
In October 2020, he set out new guidelines for BBC staff, stating that they should avoid expressing their personal views on current issues of political controversy (which he called 'virtue signalling') on their own private social media accounts. He said this was to reduce perceived bias in the BBC.[23] This would include a ban on news reporters taking part in "public demonstrations or gatherings about controversial issues", with some BBC managers citing trans rights and Black Lives Matter as examples.[24] Davie later said that journalists could attend events such as Pride marches if they were "celebratory" and not "taking a stand on politicised or contested issues".[25]
Davie has stated "As editor in chief of the BBC I think one of our founding principles is impartiality and that’s what we are delivering on".[26] A former Tory candidate, Davie announced his intention in August 2020 for the BBC to "find a better balance of satirical targets rather than constantly aiming jokes at the Tories."[27] He has announced his support of the licence fee as opposed to a Netflix style subscription service.[28]
In December 2021, Davie was elected to the Executive Board of the European Broadcasting Union. He was re-elected in December 2022 to serve a further two years on the Board, until December 2024.[29]
In July 2023, Davie released the following statement following the death of George Alagiah:
"Across the BBC, we are all incredibly sad to hear the news about George. We are thinking of his family at this time.
“George was one of the best and bravest journalists of his generation who reported fearlessly from across the world as well as presenting the news flawlessly.
“He was more than just an outstanding journalist, audiences could sense his kindness, empathy and wonderful humanity. He was loved by all and we will miss him enormously."[30]
Davie oversaw major cuts to BBC Local Radio content in late Summer 2023, resulting in the reduction of locally produced content to just eight hours per day from Monday to Friday and no weekend coverage (with the exception of live men's football commentary).[31] The implementation of the cuts was criticised, with MPs referring to the redundancy process as "workplace bullying" and the cuts in general as "managing decline".[32] At a parliamentary debate to discuss the cuts on 27 April 2023, an MP described the cuts as "the end of local public service radio".[33]
In 2023, Davie was named by the New Statesman as the eleventh most powerful right-wing political figure in the UK.[34]
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