Disclosure

The settlement terms for redundant BBC Deputy Director General Mark Byford will be interesting, but it may be sometime before we know the detail of the package; there is no precedent in the organisation for a deal at this level.  It will have to be declared in the Annual Report, but with Mark staying until at least the end of the financial year, it may miss the 2010/2011 publication. This delay might be helpful, with staff currently voting on a new pension offer - and possibly carrying on the dispute into the New Year. 

What experienced HR professionals call "the modalities" of BBC executives' departures are different in every case.  On a final salary of £475k, and with 32 years' service, Mark B could expect a pension of £253k.  If, like many, he's managed to top his "years" up with added payments to a maximum of 40, it might be £316k.  The BBC standard pay-out on redundancy is £30k; on top of that, the formula is a month's pay for every year of service, up to a maximum of 24.  That would produce a further lump sum of £950k.   If Mark decides to draw his pension next year, then it will be discounted - but another job/and or the lump sum might ease the pain. 

There's further speculation on Mark and a gong of some sort. The tradition was that former DG's get a knighthood (Lord Birt will have been pleased to do better).  But no pattern has been established for a DDG.  Nigel Chapman, Byford's lieutenant at World Service, and eventually Director of World Service himself, left with CMG after his name.  He was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George - shortened memorably in Yes, Minister to "Call Me God" - an honour more usually awarded to civil servants.