BBC accused of ‘snowy white peak syndrome’ after ethnic staff quit
THE BBC has been accused of ‘snowy white peaks’ following a wave of exits by ethnic minority staff in top jobs.
Eight black and Asian executives have recently quit or are in the process of leaving.
Some have blamed discrimination and a lack of opportunities for promotion at the top level. Recent figures reveal that more staff of ethnic backgrounds left the BBC than joined it last year, while fewer of those who stayed were promoted.
It comes just a month after Ofcom chief Sharon White said the BBC was ‘falling short’ on diversity, warning that it would not receive any special treat- ment when the regulator begins overseeing it from next April.
Trevor Phillips, former chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, has now said the corporation is guilty of ‘snowy white peak syndrome’ and described its poor record of promoting ethnic groups to the upper echelons as ‘deeply, deeply disappointing’.
He told the Sunday Times the setback was particularly frus- trating because although the BBC was ‘bringing people in at a very junior level’, at the ‘ top of the pyramid there seemed to be very little place for people of a minority background.’
The newspaper said it had been contacted by disgruntled staff from ethnic minorities after it emerged the departing head of religion and ethics, Aaqil Ahmed, is handing over responsibilities to former Labour Cabinet minister James Purnell, who is white. One employee reportedly complained of a ‘haemorrhaging of senior staff from ethnic minority backgrounds’.
Recent departures include deputy head of production operations Anjula Singh, described as the ‘ most senior Asian lady at the BBC’.
Tamara Howe, the controller of business, comedy and entertainment, and World Service commissioning editor Tony Phillips have also left.
Their exit comes months after Sir Lenny Henry branded the BBC ‘very, very white’. And it
‘Deeply disappointing’
seems not much has changed 15 years after former directorgeneral Greg Dyke branded the corporation ‘ hideously white’ at management level.
BBC staff figures published in July showed that 474 staff of black, Asian and minority ethnic (Bame) backgrounds left over the past year, while 469 joined. Some 23 per cent were promoted, compared with 28 per cent of white staff.
A BBC spokesman said: ‘ No broadcaster has a more diverse workforce or more stretching targets than the BBC.
‘We currently have our highest ever percentage of Bame staff and different people leave and join all the time, which is what happens in any business.’