Relativities

The news of advancement for Peter Barron within Google is interesting (as reported in The Guardian).  Peter left the BBC as Editor of Newsnight in 2008, to run PR for Google in the UK. Now he has a wider remit, covering Europe, the Middle East and Africa - and presumably, improved remuneration to go with the extra responsibility.

In  the early summer, Peter was widely reported to be a contender for the Controller role at Radio 4, following the decision of Mark Damazer to head to Oxford University to run St. Peter's.College.   In many of these appointment processes, urban myths arise that the final winner of the post was "not the first choice"  and "money was an issue".  We will not officially know the package for the successful candidate, Gwyneth Williams, for some time; the Telegraph has estimated it at £170k.

If that's right, it's down on Damazer by £40k, and £30k less than the salary of Graham Ellis, who deputises for Tim Davie (historically a role filled by the Controller of 4).  And an extraordinary £155k short of Tim Davie's basic salary.  Yet Gwyneth, at 57, can boast 34 years' service at the BBC.