The BBC named former Google executive Matt Brittin as its new director general on Wednesday, replacing Tim Davie, who quit last year after a misleading edit of a speech by US President Donald Trump.

The BBC is facing a $10 billion lawsuit from Trump, who accuses the publicly funded broadcaster of defamation over how it spliced together footage of parts of a speech he gave on January 6, 2021, before his supporters stormed the US Capitol.

The broadcaster has argued the lawsuit should be dismissed, saying Trump’s subsequent reelection showed the alleged defamation did not harm his reputation.

Brittin joined Google in 2007 as head of UK and Ireland before rising through the ranks to become EMEA president in 2014. He stepped down in 2024 and will take on the new role from May 18.