THE new director-general of the BBC was announced today as ex-deputy chair of Hammersmith and Fulham Conservative Party Tim Davie.

The former corporate marketeer is set to replace Tony Hall on September 1, after the latter said in January that he was leaving after seven years in the post.

Lord Hall’s resignation came amid a stream of public crises at the BBC around equal pay, diversity, the scrapping of free TV licences for over-75s, competition from online streaming services and the  coronavirus pandemic – which Mr Hall warned could cost the BBC £125 million.

Mr Davie was acting director-general for four months following George Entwistle’s resignation in November 2012 ⁠— during the Jimmy Savile paedophilia scandal ⁠— and previously served as the BBC’s head of audio.

Before joining the BBC in 2005 he was the vice president of marketing at PepsiCo Europe and previously worked in marketing for Procter and Gamble.

It was also reported that Mr Davie will take a pay cut to be the BBC’s 17th director-general, taking around £525,000 a year ⁠— down from his executive wage of £642,000.

Mr Davie said he was “honoured” to be appointed to the job, adding that he would oversee continued “reform” of the BBC through “making clear choices and staying relevant.”

We Own It campaigns officer Pascale Robinson said it was vital that the BBC enter “this new era” by strengthening its role as Britain’s public service broadcaster.

"That means we need it to transition into a broadcaster that is reflective of and accountable to us ⁠— the public,” he said.

“In doing so, we need a board independent of government interference with a citizens’ panel to give us a voice.”