BBC Creative Director Alan Yentob Steps Down

Alan Yentob, the creative director of U.K. broadcaster the BBC, has stepped down from his post. The senior executive has been caught up in a controversy regarding children’s charity Kids Company, which he was chairman.

It is said that Yentob used his position to influence BBC news coverage of the charity’s financial management and this news came at a time when the BBC management, led by director general Tony Hall, is negotiating a new agreement, known as the BBC Charter, with the U.K. government. Kids Company, which was run by Camila Batmanghelidjh, went bust in August, and its former bosses faced a barrage of media reports that alleged financial mismanagement, which Batmanghelidjh and Yentob deny.

Yentob said in a statement that “the BBC is going through particularly challenging times and I have come to believe that the speculation about Kids Company and the media coverage revolving around my role is proving a serious distraction. So I have spoken to Tony Hall and told him that I think it best that I step down from my senior management role as creative director at the end of this year, and focus on program-making and TV production. I will also continue supporting Christine Langan and her team as chairman of BBC Films. I love the BBC and will continue to do everything I can to ensure that it thrives and fulfils the great expectations we all have of it.”