New BBC boss under pressure to reveal Google shares

The incoming director-general of the BBC is under pressure to reveal how many shares he owns in Google amid concerns his financial stake in the tech giant could present a conflict of interest.

Matt Brittin, a former senior Google executive who was confirmed as the successor to Tim Davie on Wednesday, is in discussions with the BBC about his personal interests before taking up the top job in May.

The BBC has so far refused to confirm how many shares Mr Brittin still holds in Google’s parent company, Alphabet, where he was an executive for almost two decades.

Shares often comprise a significant portion of overall pay for senior Google executives. Sundar Pichai, Google’s chief executive, is paid a base salary of $2m (£1.5m) but stands to earn as much as $692m in the next three years thanks to stock awards.

While pay for top US executives must be disclosed publicly, the same does not apply for those employed by a UK subsidiary.

The tech boss, who led Google in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, before stepping down last year, refused to tell MPs in 2016 how much money he was paid by the business.

His potential stake in the tech giant has triggered concerns about a potential conflict of interest as the BBC directly competes with Google-owned YouTube for audiences, especially when it comes to younger viewers.

Dame Chi Onwurah, chairman of the Commons science, innovation and technology select committee, said that Mr Brittin’s potential shareholding in Google raises conflict of interest concerns.

“The BBC and Google are competitors and if Mr Brittin has an interest in Google’s success, there are undoubtedly areas where that is not the same thing as the BBC’s success and maybe even runs counter to it,” she said.

She added: “At a time of increasing public concern about accountability, particularly from big tech and the media, I think it’s critical that the BBC should be transparent about the recruitment process and the interests of its director-general.”

The BBC said it would discuss mitigations for any conflict in Mr Brittin’s personal interests, adding that a declaration of his interests will be published on May 18, his first day.

It is thought that these mitigations could include placing his shares in a blind trust or selling them off.

One senior shadow minister added: “It’s critical that anyone in such a sensitive position is beyond reproach and that of course means selling any Google shares or investments which would compromise his position.”

A BBC source said: “Clearly Matt will do whatever is required to ensure there is no conflict of interest when he assumes the role of director general.”

The BBC has been attempting to strengthen its ties with YouTube as the public service broadcaster seeks to stem an exodus of viewers to the US tech platform.

The corporation struck a landmark deal in January to make programmes specifically for YouTube, rather than using the service simply to promote clips and trailers of its shows.

In its annual plan published on Thursday, the BBC reiterated plans to “scale our offer on YouTube to help connect with our lightest audiences in new ways”.

But the BBC is also at loggerheads with Google as the tech giant rolls out AI features in its search engine.

In a recent submission to regulators, the BBC warned that more action was needed to ensure publishers were given “meaningful” control over how the tech giant uses their content. A spokesman for the BBC said the broadcaster stood by its submission.

The BBC also has a relationship with Google through the tech giant’s advertising platform. The broadcaster currently only makes advertising revenue from its operations overseas but adverts could be introduced in the UK under licence fee alternatives being considered as part of the charter renewal.

Mr Brittin, a Cambridge University graduate and Doctor Who fan, has pledged to win back the public’s trust after a string of scandals engulfing the BBC, not least the doctoring of a Donald Trump speech in a Panorama episode that led to Mr Davie’s resignation.

However, his lack of journalistic experience and ties to big tech have triggered concerns in some quarters. John Sergeant, the veteran BBC journalist, this week described Mr Brittin’s appointment as “disastrous” because he “doesn’t know about journalism”.

Baroness Kidron, the former film director and crossbench peer, said the appointment was “another decision from government that treats big tech as entirely neutral when clearly it is hell bent on absorbing all UK assets”.

She added: “I have no problem with Matt as an individual. He is clearly a competent leader and whenever I met him perfectly charming but there is a view of the world he had presided over in which Google fought against paying tax in the UK, has stolen UK creative copyright, including the BBC’s, and has been careless with children’s wellbeing and safety.

“The challenge for Government is to prove this is not part of their plans to give away the UK creative sector to big tech by backing transparency and copyright.”

A BBC spokesman said: “Matt will comply with BBC policy in the same way every other BBC employee does.”

Mr Brittin has been contacted for comment.