February 10 2025
A highly esteemed editor for the BBC, Kamal Ahmed, has made the decision to part ways with the corporation. He was appointed as the Editorial Director in 2018 after a highly successful tenure as the Economics Editor. However, with the corporation facing severe financial constraints and in an attempt to cut down on senior staff costs, Ahmed's role has been made redundant.
In a heartfelt message to his colleagues, Ahmed expressed his gratitude for the opportunities he has had at BBC and the immense pride he has in the work they have carried out. He also expressed his conviction that the BBC is a critical institution for democracy.
Tim Davie, Director General of BBC, acknowledged Ahmed's significant contribution to the corporation, praising his journalistic integrity and dedication to his work. He expressed regret over the tough decisions the corporation has had to make due to the financial constraints.
Ahmed's departure is part of the broader effort by the corporation to reduce costs. As the BBC faces increasing competition from streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon, it is forced to make tough financial decisions. The corporation is aiming to save £80m in its news department by 2022.
Ahmed's role as the Editorial Director will not be filled by another individual. Instead, the responsibilities will be divided among other senior staff. This is part of an effort to reduce the number of senior management roles within the corporation.
Prior to his role as the Editorial Director, Ahmed was the Economics Editor for the BBC. He had previously worked for The Observer and The Guardian before joining the BBC in 2014.
