The coronavirus pandemic could lead to a delay in the BBC finding a successor to Tony Hall as director general.
According to The Guardian, the BBC is considering postponing interviews with the candidates to September. Originally, there were expected to take place in June.
The paper says sources suggest the coronavirus crisis has affected the number of potential applicants because many are top executives at companies dealing with issues such as furloughing staff and cutting costs.
Earlier this week it was reported the BBC has drawn up a shortlist of four potential candidates: Will Lewis, the outgoing chief executive of the publisher of the Wall Street Journal; two of the BBC’s most senior executives, Tim Davie and Charlotte Moore. It’s now thought the fourth candidate is Doug Gurr, head of Amazon’s UK and Ireland operations.
Tony Hall announced his decision to step down as director general in January. At the time he was expected to leave in the summer. But, the on-going coronavirus pandemic could have put that decision on hold, at least for the moment.
