Alan Yentob quits as BBC executive over Kids Company scandal

Stepping down: Alan Yentob

Tolga Akmen/LNP/Rex

3 December 2015

Alan Yentob has stepped down as a BBC executive amid criticism over his role in the Kids Company scandal.

Mr Yentob served as the Corporation's creative director and also held the post of chairman of the charity trustees at Kids Company.

He came under fire for his role amid claims of financial mismanagement within the organisation and was also accused of attempting to influence the BBC's coverage of the story.

Announcing his resignation, Mr Yentob said in a statement: “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 programme making and TV production - including of course the Imagine Series. I will also continue supporting Christine Langan and her team as Chairman of BBC Films.”

Mr Yentob spent his entire career at the BBC and was a Kids Company board member from 2003 until its collapse this year.

BBC Director General Tony Hall praised Mr Yentob as a “towering figure” in the arts and television.

He added: “He has served the BBC with distinction in a number of different executive roles – all of which have been characterised by his energy, creativity and commitment to public service. He has an extraordinary roll-call of achievement.

"For the record, BBC News considered whether Alan Yentob had influenced the BBC’s journalism on the reporting of Kids Company. They concluded that he did not. Despite that, I understand his reasons for stepping down as Creative Director. He has been thinking about this carefully for some time and we have discussed it privately on a number of occasions."

Mr Hall also insisted the BBC’s coverage of the Kids Company scandal had not been influenced by Mr Yentob, who previously insisted he had not "abused my position at the BBC".

Kids Company, run by Camila Batmanghelidjh, collapsed in August amid allegations of financial mismanagement. The charity insisted the claims were unfounded.

A cross-party committee of MPs found that the government gave Kids Company a "staggering" £40million over 13 years.

The Public Accounts Commitee said ministers' "special treatment" of the charity meant other vulnerable children across the UK had suffered as a result of Kids Company being given "far in excess" of what they were given.

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Alan Yentob quits as BBC executive over Kids Company scandal

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