BBC board-level appointments designed to drive commercial growth

Just a day after BBC director-general Tim Davie set out his “case for growth” at the Royal Television Society, the corporation has unveiled a raft of new Board level appointments that its says reflect its “commitment to growing commercial income”.

Damon Buffini

Key appointments include the appointment of Damon Buffini as deputy chair of the BBC Board. BBC chairman Richard Sharp said Buffini would “bring vast experience and expertise to the oversight of our commercial operations at a time when the BBC Board is looking for significant and sustained commercial growth.”

Buffini, who is also chairman of the BBC Commercial Board, simultaneously announced three new non-executive director appointments to that body. They are: Gary Newman, former Chairman & CEO of Fox Television Group; Ian Griffiths former deputy CEO and CFO of market intelligence agency Kantar; and Claire Hungate, who is currently president and COO of esports organisation Team Liquid.

The BBC Commercial Board oversees the delivery of the BBC’s commercial activities.  These are primarily made up of BBC Studios and BBC Studioworks. Buffini said: “The BBC’s commercial subsidiaries have been tasked with a further step-change in performance.  The appointment of three new non-executives, with spectacular industry experience, reinforces the Commercial Board’s commitment to support and challenge the executive in achieving these stretching goals.”