Roles and responsibilities
- Peter has strategic oversight of the BBC Complaints process and leadership of the BBC’s Executive Complaints Unit (ECU)
- He is responsible for the implementation of all commitments made as a result of the BBC’s 10-point impartiality plan, including all editorial reviews
- Peter collaborates with colleagues across the BBC to ensure understanding of and adherence to the Editorial Guidelines
- He attends the Editorial Guidance and Standards Committee (EGSC) of the BBC Board and represents the BBC at a senior level to Ofcom
Biography
Peter Johnston has been BBC Director, Editorial Complaints and Reviews since March 2023.
Prior to this, in 2022, Peter led the BBC’s response to the Serota Review into editorial processes, governance, and culture, successfully delivering on wide-ranging commitments in the BBC’s 10-point impartiality plan.
Before successfully implementing the BBC’s commitment to impartiality across the BBC, Peter was Controller / Director of BBC Northern Ireland from 2006. As Editor in Chief, Peter was on the frontline of impartiality issues in one of the most challenging environments, overseeing 700 staff and more than 8,500 hours of local radio and television content each year.
He had overall editorial and managerial responsibility for the BBC in Northern Ireland, including the BBC’s award-winning news and current affairs. This included one of the BBC’s main centres for investigative journalism, managing a wide range of sensitive projects and dealing with major political and editorial issues. He sat on the BBC Nations and Regions Board and on the BBC Northern Ireland Committee.
Peter was integral in bringing major BBC-wide events such as The Biggest Weekend and Sport Personality Of The Year to Northern Ireland, and played a key role in ensuring network dramas such as The Fall and Line Of Duty were made there.
He has directed numerous successful BBC partnerships and creative relationships, including the BBC’s trail-blazing partnership agreement with Northern Ireland Screen. He was also the Nations Division representative on the BBC’s Digital Leadership Group.
Peter joined BBC Northern Ireland in 1994 working in audience research before becoming Head of Marketing and Development. He represented the marketing and communications teams in English Regions, Scotland, Wales, and NI on the BBC's Marketing Board before becoming Head of New Media for BBC Nations and Regions in London. Prior to his role as Director BBC NI, Peter was Head of Broadcasting for three years, responsible for the overall commissioning and scheduling of programmes and content for audiences across television, radio and online.
Educated at Ballymena Academy and then Imperial College London, Peter completed a Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering and Management. On leaving university in 1988 he took up a post in the marketing division of Shell International in London. In 1991 he returned to Northern Ireland and joined Coopers and Lybrand (PWC) as a management consultant. He first developed his interests in the world of broadcasting and media management when he provided consultancy support for several of the local ITV franchise bids and an application for a Channel 5 television licence.
Peter is a BBC Pension Fund Trustee.
Annual remuneration (as at July 2024)
- £200,000 - £204,999
Expenses and central bookings
Expenses are costs incurred by BBC staff on behalf of the BBC and claimed through the BBC's expenses system.
Central bookings are costs incurred on behalf of the BBC and booked through the BBC's central bookings system. Both expenses and central bookings are published every three months.
Downloads
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q4 2023-24
- Peter Johnston’s central bookings Q4 2023-24
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q3 2023-24
- Peter Johnston’s central bookings Q3 2023-24
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q2 2023-24
- Peter Johnston’s central bookings Q2 2023-24
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q1 2023-24
- Peter Johnston’s central bookings Q1 2023-24
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q4 2022-23
- Peter Johnston’s central bookings Q4 2022-23
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q3 2022-23
- Peter Johnston’s central bookings Q3 2022-23
- Peter Johnston had no expenses paid in Q2 2022-23
- Peter Johnston’s central bookings Q2 2022-23
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q1 2022-23
- Peter Johnston’s central bookings Q1 2022-23
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q4 2021-22
- Peter Johnston’s central bookings Q4 2021-22
- Peter Johnston had no expenses paid in Q3 2021-22
- Peter Johnston’s central bookings Q3 2021-22
- Peter Johnston had no expenses paid in Q2 2021-22
- Peter Johnston’s central bookings Q2 2021-22
- Peter Johnston had no expenses paid in Q1 2021-22
- Peter Johnston’s central bookings Q1 2021-22
- Peter Johnston had no expenses paid in Q4 2020-21
- Peter Johnston had no central bookings in Q4 2020-21
- Peter Johnston’s expenses Q3 2020-21
- Peter Johnston’s central bookings Q3 2020-21
- Peter Johnston’s central bookings Q2 2020-21
- Peter Johnston had no expenses paid in Q2 2020-21
- Peter Johnston’s expenses Q1 2020-21
- Peter Johnston’s central bookings Q1 2020-21
- Peter Johnston had no expenses paid in Q4 2019-20
- Peter Johnston’s central bookings Q4 2019-20
- Peter Johnston’s expenses Q3 2019-20
- Peter Johnston’s central bookings Q3 2019-20
- Peter Johnston’s expenses Q2 2019-20
- Peter Johnston’s central bookings Q2 2019-20
- Peter Johnston’s expenses Q1 2019-20
- Peter Johnston’s central bookings Q1 2019-20
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q4 2018-19
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q4 2018-19
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q3 2018-19
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q3 2018-19
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q2 2018-19
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q2 2018-19
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q1 2018-19
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q1 2018-19
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q4 2017-18
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q4 2017-18
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q3 2017-18
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q3 2017-18
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q2 2017-18
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q2 2017-18
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q1 2017-18
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q1 2017-18
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q4 2016-17
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q4 2016-17
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q3 2016-17
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q3 2016-17
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q2 2016-17
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q2 2016-17
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q1 2016-17
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q1 2016-17
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q4 2015-16
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q4 2015-16
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q3 2015-16
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q3 2015-16
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q2 2015-16
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q2 2015-16
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q1 2015-16
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q1 2015-16
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q4 2014-15
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q4 2014-15
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q3 2014-15
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q3 2014-15
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q2 2014-15
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q2 2014-15
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q1 2014-15
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q1 2014-15
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q4 2013-14
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q4 2013-14
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q3 2013-14
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q3 2013-14
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q2 2013-14
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q2 2013-14
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q1 2013-14
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q1 2013-14
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q4 2012-13
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q4 2012-13
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q3 2012-13
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q3 2012-13
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q2 2012-13
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q2 2012-13
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q1 2012-13
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q1 2012-13
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q4 2011-12
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q4 2011-12
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q3 2011-12
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q3 2011-12
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q2 2011-12
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q2 2011-12
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q1 2011-12
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q1 2011-12
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q4 2010-11
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q4 2010-11
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q3 2010-11
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q3 2010-11
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q2 2010-11
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q2 2010-11
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q1 2010-11
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q1 2010-11
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q4 2009-10
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q4 2009-10
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q3 2009-10
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q3 2009-10
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q2 2009-10
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q2 2009-10
- Peter Johnston's expenses Q1 2009-10
- Peter Johnston's central bookings Q1 2009-10
Gifts and Hospitality Register
Gifts and hospitality may only be accepted in line with BBC policy. Information about gifts and hospitality is published every three months.
Downloads
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q3 2023-24
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q2 2023-24
- Peter Johnston's Gifts and Hospitality Register Q1 2023-24
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q4 2022-23
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q3 2022-23
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q2 2022-23
- Peter Johnston's Gifts and Hospitality Register Q1 2022-23
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q4 2021-22
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q3 2021-22
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q2 2021-22
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q1 2021-22
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q4 2020-21
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q3 2020-21
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q2 2020-21
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q1 2020-21
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q4 2019-20
- Peter Johnston’s Gifts and Hospitality Register Q3 2019-20
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q2 2019-20
- Peter Johnston’s Gifts and Hospitality Register Q1 2019-20
- Peter Johnston's Gifts and Hospitality Register 2018-19
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q1 2018-19
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q4 2017-18
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q3 2017-18
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q2 2017-18
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q1 2017-18
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q4 2016-17
- Peter Johnston's Gifts and Hospitality Register Q3 2016-17
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q2 2016-17
- Peter Johnston's Gifts and Hospitality Register Q1 2016-17
- Peter Johnston's Gifts and Hospitality Register Q4 2015-16
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q3 2015-16
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q2 2015-16
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q1 2015-16
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q4 2014-15
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q3 2014-15
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q2 2014-15
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q1 2014-15
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q4 2013-14
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q3 2013-14
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q2 2013-14
- Peter Johnston's Gifts and Hospitality Register Q1 2013-14
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q4 2012-13
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q3 2012-13
- Peter Johnston's Gifts and Hospitality Register Q2 2012-13
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q1 2012-13
- Peter Johnston's Gifts and Hospitality Register Q4 2011-12
- Peter Johnston's Gifts and Hospitality Register Q3 2011-12
- Peter Johnston's Gifts and Hospitality Register Q2 2011-12
- Peter Johnston's Gifts and Hospitality Register Q1 2011-12
- Peter Johnston's Gifts and Hospitality Register Q4 2010-11
- Peter Johnston's Gifts and Hospitality Register Q3 2010-11
- Peter Johnston's Gifts and Hospitality Register Q2 2010-11
- Peter Johnston's Gifts and Hospitality Register Q1 2010-11
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q4 2009-10
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q3 2009-10
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q2 2009-10
- Peter Johnston had no gifts or hospitality to declare in Q1 2009-10
Declaration of personal interests
Staff must make a declaration of their personal and business interests, including any memberships or directorships of public or industry bodies, and any shareholdings, as well as any interests that their immediate families may also have.
A summary is published where there is something to declare and where there is nothing to declare. Occasionally an individual will have something to declare but due to the personal nature of the declaration we do not publish details as to do so would breach the General Data Protection Regulation.
This information is published annually, although if any amendments are made during the year an updated summary will be published if necessary as soon as it is available.