Tim Davie: the marketing man who became the BBC’s director general

Davie’s long BBC career spanned roles from marketing director to acting director general before taking the top job in 2020. Photograph: PA Images/Alamy

Tim Davie has been one of the BBC’s longest-serving executives. After leaving his role as vice-president of marketing and franchise at PepsiCo, Davie became director of the BBC’s marketing, communications and audiences division in 2005.

In 2008, he took on the role of director of the audio and music division. This involved running a variety of radio stations, including Radio 1, 2, 3, and 4.