BBC board member resigns – and criticises ‘governance issues’ at top of corporation | UK News

A BBC board member has resigned as he criticised “governance issues” at the top of the corporation.

Shumeet Banerji notified the board of his resignation on Friday, the BBC said in a statement.

It comes after the corporation’s director-general Tim Davie and chief executive of BBC News Deborah Turness resigned earlier this month following a row over the editing of a Panorama documentary on Donald Trump.

Mr Banerji cited “governance issues” at the top of the BBC as the reason for his resignation, saying in a letter he was “not consulted” about the events leading up to the resignations of Mr Davie and Ms Turness, BBC News reports.

“Mr Banerji’s term on the board as a non-executive director was due to end at the end of December and we thank him for his service,” a BBC spokesperson said.

“The search for a replacement is already well under way and we will update further in due course.”

Mr Banerji was appointed to the BBC board as one of the non-executive directors in January 2022, with his term running until 31 December.

As part of his role, he was responsible for upholding and protecting the independence of the BBC by acting in the public interest, ensuring the board’s decision-making was in the public interest, and exercising independent judgement, according to a profile on the corporation’s website.

Departure is a significant blow at an especially awkward time

Katie Spencer

Arts and entertainment correspondent

They say timing is everything – and Shumeet Banerji’s resignation could not have come at a more delicate moment for the BBC.

Few outside media and governance circles would have known his name before he handed in his notice, yet his departure lands a significant blow at an especially awkward time.

On Monday, BBC chair Samir Shah and board member Sir Robbie Gibb are due to give evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee. Instead of helping to steady the ship, Banerji’s exit exposes the depth of the divisions they will now be expected to defend.

The BBC’s official line stresses that Banerji was already scheduled to step down in December, but his decision to leave earlier tells its own story.

If, as reported, ‘governance issues’ contributed to his decision, then Samir Shah has reason to be concerned as it would seem it’s not only critics from outside the organisation who are questioning his ability to lead.

Mr Banerji founded advisory and investment firm Condorcet, which focuses on early and development stage technology companies.

In 2012, he stepped down as chief executive of consulting firm Booz And Company. Mr Banerji is currently serving on the board of directors of several companies, including Hewlett-Packard Company.

Mr Banerji’s resignation follows several tumultuous weeks at the corporation.

Last week, the BBC issued an apology to Mr Trump for the edit of his speech on 6 January 2021, which had given the “mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action”.

Despite the apology, Mr Trump said he would sue the corporation for between $1bn and $5bn.

Several BBC board members will attend a hearing by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on 24 November.

The evidence session will focus on the BBC’s editorial guidelines and standards committee and how it ensures the corporation’s output complies with its editorial guidelines, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said in the Commons last week.

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