The BBC has confirmed Director-General Tim Davie will stand down on 2 April, with Rhodri Talfan Davies appointed to serve as Interim Director-General until a permanent successor is in place.
To support the transition, the BBC said Rhodri will join the BBC Board on 1 February as an Executive Director, a position he will retain when he takes over as Interim Director-General on 3 April. The BBC also confirmed Rhuanedd Richards will continue as Interim Nations Director through the period.
In a note to staff, BBC Chair Samir Shah said: “There will be a time to celebrate Tim and thank him for his extraordinary contribution to the BBC nearer his departure date. Until then, Tim continues to lead the corporation through this critical period as we prepare our response to the government’s consultation on its Green Paper on the future of the BBC Charter.”
On Rhodri’s appointment, Shah added: “He is an outstanding leader who brings deep editorial experience and a passionate commitment to the power of public service broadcasting to reach and represent audiences across all parts of the UK. I know you will give him your support.”
Davies first joined the BBC in 1993 as a news trainee and went on to become a news reporter and producer. In 1999 he was appointed head of regional programmes at BBC West in Bristol, leaving in 2001 to become director of TV at Homechoice, the early IPTV operator, which evolved into TalkTalk TV. In 2005 he was appointed head of TV marketing at the cable operator NTL.
Davies returned to the BBC in 2006 as head of strategy and communications. He was appointed director of BBC Cymru Wales in September 2011 and in 2020 Director of Nations, with responsibility for nations and local audiences in Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland.
Tim Davie resigned on 9 November last year amid the controversy over the BBC’s editing of a Donald Trump speech. The BBC said the process to appoint a new Director-General is underway.
