Tim Davie Appointed BBC Director General

Hmm...

It absolutely isn't racist to observe that a public organisation which supposedly champions diversity has not yet delivered a female or BAME director general.

You could have have that, without mentioning the person's race along with a negative suggestion tone. It is very close to the edge.

People want this to happen, but do not seem to appreciate it is far more complex than just giving someone the job because of their sex or the colour of their skin. Which is what people are effectively asking for if they do not recognising the realities of the industry. As I explained in my post above.

I will never understand the obsession some have with highlighting race, it doesn't really mean anything if the head of a company is non-white, or a woman for that matter, if the root of the reality still exists. Sure it "looks good" but that isn't going to change things on the ground. I appreciate it can inspire people and make them feel more that they are involved and represented, but it is far better to resolve things properly and that takes time. The world is changing but it slow to do so. It is a bit faster in the modern world but cannot change with the click of a button as the internet would seem to like it to happen. The BBC is hard at work fixing the roots. It can make gestures with non serious things like Doctor Who, but we are taking about the very survival of the BBC as we know it. Only the person suitable should get the job. The roots with flourish given time.

It would be a much stronger argument if you were to suggest which individual who is more qualified for the job than Tim Davie has been overlooked due to their gender or race.

You’re missing the point. The problem isn’t that a white man got the job. The problem is that there are so few individuals who aren’t male or white who had a chance, hence there isn’t really anybody to suggest.

And therein lies the issue. Now I will be honest and say that I had never heard of Tim Davie up until he had been appointed. Now I'm sure everyone will agree with me and wish him the best of luck in the role. Likewise I'm sure everyone will agree that he has been dropped in the deep end given the current situation.

But the sad fact is that the UK's broacasting industry in 2020 is still mired in what I call "old-fashioned" thinking in that the net is not being cast wide. The only lady I can think of that may have been considered is Lis Howell who has a considerable experience both as a presenter and behind the scenes.

And I will go on record and say that right now I can't think of anyone from the BAME communtity who would be suitable. A shocking state of affairs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lis_Howell

That's an entirely different, but valid, issue.

(Dr) Alex Mahon CEO channel 4. Salary around £900k
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Mahon

Dame Carolyn McCall CEO itv salary in 2018 £3.7million
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolyn_McCall
They are taking cuts in salary this year though .....

But it would have been interesting to see what the BBC would have been
if Caroline Thomson had been appointed not George Entwhistle
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_Thomson

And from the BAME community
Patrick Younge
https://rts.org.uk/person/patrick-younge
https://www.speakersforschools.org/speakers/patrick-younge/

But I'm pleased that Tim Davie will be taking the BBC forward

Thanks for the examples. Very much appreciated

Both Patrick Younge and Charlotte Moore would have been disasters as DG. Neither have the skills that are needed for the job. Moore had such a disastrous Edinburgh session with Krishnan Guru Murthy a few years ago that they've softened the whole format down to accommodate her. Her last interviewer was Zoe Ball!

Numerous women in the industry including Alex Mahon were approached by the head hunters but turned them down according to the Sunday Times.

Sharon White (ex OFCOM head) was approached and would have been perfect. But why give up your 1m salary at John Lewis for the constant media scrutiny of this role and less than half the salary.

Last year she got Tom Bradby for the Edinburgh session. Zoe Ball was the year before.

I wouldn't be surprised if Davie's brief interim as acting DG swung it for him in the end as well as the fact he's successfully run BBC Studios for the last seven years.

I'd have thought pointing out that every single DG ever appointed has been a white male would be enough to prove there has been a lack of diversity in the role.