People
BBC appoints Matt Brittin as 18th Director-General
Former Google EMEA president to lead broadcaster from May amid global change
LONDON: The BBC has named Matt Brittin as its 18th Director-General, placing a seasoned technology and media leader at the helm of one of the world’s most influential public broadcasters. He will formally assume the role on 18 May.
Brittin steps into the position after a brief “gap year”, as he described it, returning to the spotlight with a job that, in his own words, was “probably not one either you or I were expecting”. The appointment signals a strategic tilt towards digital expertise at a time when traditional broadcasting continues to evolve at pace.
The new Director-General brings more than 18 years of experience from Google, where he held several senior roles, including President for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. During his tenure, he played a central role in expanding the company’s footprint across Europe and shaping its regional strategy.
More recently, Brittin served as Senior Independent Director at The Guardian, adding boardroom insight from one of Britain’s leading news organisations. His career also spans roles at McKinsey, Trinity Mirror and Sainsbury’s, giving him a broad perspective across media, retail and strategy.
The Director-General position carries dual responsibility as chief executive officer and editor-in-chief, overseeing the BBC’s creative, editorial and operational direction both in the UK and globally. It is a role that demands not just leadership, but a steady editorial compass in an increasingly complex media landscape.
“Now, more than ever, we need a thriving BBC that works for everyone in a complex, uncertain and fast changing world,” Brittin said. He added that the broadcaster remains “an extraordinary, uniquely British asset” with a legacy of innovation in storytelling and technology.
His appointment comes at a moment when public service broadcasters are under pressure to balance tradition with transformation, navigating shifting audience habits, digital disruption and funding debates. Brittin’s blend of Silicon Valley scale and British media sensibility may prove timely.
With “big challenges and big opportunities” ahead, Brittin appears ready to get started. The real test begins in May, when he moves from anticipation to action at Broadcasting House.
People
Times Network revamps revenue leadership structure for FY27 growth
New roles aim to boost monetisation and align teams across verticals
MUMBAI: Times Network has rolled out a sweeping restructuring of its news revenue leadership for FY27, as it looks to sharpen monetisation strategies and respond to shifting media consumption trends.
The reorganisation is designed to streamline decision-making, improve cross-team collaboration and drive more outcome-focused revenue strategies across its business verticals. At the centre of this reset are three senior leaders tasked with steering distinct revenue engines for the network.
Gaurav Dhawan will continue to lead ad sales across channels as chief revenue officer, while also taking charge of a newly created Network Alliance vertical. The unit is expected to unlock incremental revenue through partnerships, smaller agency collaborations, print tie-ups and expansion into new categories across brand solutions and intellectual properties.
Supporting this initiative, Edwin Crasto steps in as zonal head for Network Alliance, with regional leads including Prajit Menon in the West, Prateek Sharma in the North, Vigil Varghese in the South and Ipsita heading the East.
Gaurav Nagar has been appointed zonal head with additional responsibility as national channel custodian for key properties such as Times Now, Times Now World, ET Now and ET Now Swadesh. He will work with Kaushik Bagchi and Niraj Malhotra across regions.
Meanwhile, Gaurav Dewani has rejoined the network as executive vice president, Times Influence Sales, reporting to Ashish Sehgal. Dewani will lead revenue across brand capital, IP expansion, PSU business and national corporate sales, with regional teams supporting execution.
Rajesh Madampath continues to head government business, overseeing both state and central mandates, with a focus on scaling growth in the segment while contributing to broader monetisation initiatives.
The restructuring also strengthens the role of the Times Influence team, which will support ideation and execution across verticals, signalling a push towards more integrated and innovation-led revenue streams.
With sharper roles and clearer accountability, Times Network is tuning its revenue engine for the next phase of growth, aiming to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive and fast-evolving media landscape.
