New BBC Chairman Announced

A former banker and trusted Government advisor has been selected as the next Chairman of the BBC Executive Board.

Apologies for the tardiness of this story.

Richard Sharp will take over from the incumbent BBC Chairman, David Clementi, when he steps down in mid-February.

Sharp has worked in the financial sector for more than 30 years. Towards the end of his career he was a member of the Bank of England's Financial Policy Board. The Oxford graduate also has a keen interest in the arts, having previously been chairman of the Royal Academy of Arts.

He is currently acting as an unpaid advisor to Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, who previously worked under him at Goldman Sachs, but is expected to leave the Treasury when he takes up his new 3-day a week, £160,000 a year role.

Sharp's BBC appointment has been signed off by the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, who he previously advised when he was Mayor of London.

Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, said: "He is exactly the Chair the BBC needs right now.

"I'm confident he will drive forward reforms to the BBC to ensure it impartially reflects and serves the needs of all parts of the UK, and evolve to remain a global success that is central to British national life in the decades ahead.

"Richard's leadership in the top flight of finance and commerce, combined with his passion for culture and public service, make him the ideal person for this hugely important role."

Sharp will appear before MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee for pre-appointment scrutiny on Thursday.

It is a challenging period in the history of the BBC, with dwindling public confidence in the broadcaster's accuracy and impartiality and questions hanging over the future of the TV licence fee.

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