The BBC has appointed former director of Nations, and until recently interim director-general, Rhodri Talfan Davies to the new position of deputy director-general following a competitive internal recruitment process.
Talfan Davies will work as new DG Matt Brittin’s second-in-command, responsible for shaping and delivering the BBC’s editorial strategy, and safeguarding the public’s trust in the BBC, in a new role that was one of Brittin’s first announcements when he took up his own post.
He will also “drive the BBC’s commitment to editorial excellence across all BBC output,” including ensuring the corporation responds rapidly and robustly to any editorial and operational issues.
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He takes up the role with immediate effect and will serve as a member of both the executive committee and BBC board.
BBC director-general Brittin said: “Rhodri was the outstanding choice among several very strong candidates. He is a trusted, experienced leader – the BBC’s values seem woven into his DNA. I’ve got to know him myself in recent months and I’ve seen at first-hand how invaluable his judgment, breadth of experience and sense of purpose are to this organisation.
“He is steeped in the BBC’s public service mission while sharing my ambition and sense of urgency to reinvent the BBC for the future.”
Talfan Davies has worked at the BBC for more than 28 years in a variety of roles. Most recently he was Director of the BBC’s Nations division, where he had the unenviable task of selling the BBC’s much-maligned plans for “reshaping” local radio to critics and a sceptical public, and made either “the biggest impact” on regional commissioning and production in the face of challenging economic conditions, or the biggest cuts to it, depending who you talk to – quite possibly a bit of both.
Rhuanedd Richards will continue to lead Nations as interim director.
Talfan Davies said: “I’m honoured to have been appointed deputy director-general. The BBC is a beacon of trust and excellence for millions of people here in the UK and globally. I’m looking forward to working with teams across the organisation to promote the highest editorial and creative standards, and to uphold the BBC’s values across our services.”
