BBC Director Of Research & Development Quits

EXCLUSIVE: Jatin Aythora, the BBC‘s director of research and development, is departing after an 11-year spell with the British broadcaster.

Aythora will step down at the end of this week, and his role will not be replaced amid plans for the BBC’s Media Tech unit to slash costs by at least £100 million ($134M).

Aythora, who earns up to £235,000 a year, has been director of research and development since 2021. He has led the BBC’s AI and machine learning efforts, and has been central to the creation of Content Credentials, a media industry initiative to help verify content and tackle misinformation.

In 2025, the Television Academy presented the BBC’s research and development team with the Philo T. Farnsworth Corporate Achievement Award, its highest distinction for long-term institutional impact.

In an internal email, Storm Fagan, BBC chief technology and product officer, thanked Aythora for his “immense contribution and commitment to the BBC.”

“I want to be really clear that the work our R&D colleagues do is hugely valued and will continue to be in future. Their expertise is vital to not just Media Tech but the wider organisation and industry,” she added.

Aythora said: “The BBC gave my curiosity, innovative instincts and creativity, somewhere real to live, inside a mission worth believing in. That’s shaped how I’ve worked with you as much as what we’ve built together.”

A BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC has a proud history of innovation and research and development, helping to shape broadcasting and improve audience experiences for over 100 years. These proposals are designed to build on that success. Bringing these experts closer to the teams developing BBC products and services that are used by millions of people each day will help us do more to meet audiences where they are and move faster to the future.”

“A smaller central R&D team will focus on long-term innovation, industry standards, future technologies and partnerships. R&D expertise remains highly valued across the BBC and the wider industry, and continues to play an important role in delivering our public service mission.”