New ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Chairman appointed
The Government
today announced that Michael Grade has been appointed ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½
Chairman for four years from 17 May 2004.
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Welcoming the appointment Richard Ryder, Acting ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½
Chairman, said: "The Board of Governors warmly
welcomes the appointment of Michael Grade. We are delighted that he
will be the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s new Chairman and we look forward to working closely
with him.
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"He will find a united Board
which is optimistic about the future.
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"The Board is conscious of the importance of the
tasks it will tackle under his leadership, including Charter Review,
the appointment of the Director-General, the Graf Review of bbc.co.uk,
the first stage of the Ofcom PSB review and the DCMS reviews of new
services.
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"We are very grateful to
the DCMS for expediting the appointment of the new Chairman in such
a short period."
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Mark Byford, Acting Director-General, said: "Michael
Grade is one of the major world figures in broadcasting and the wider
creative industry, with an outstanding record of achievement.
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"He has a deep understanding of broadcasting, and
firmly believes in the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ and its place at the heart of national life.
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"He is passionate about creativity, talent and
ambition in programmes.
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"That is why everyone in the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ will warmly welcome
this exciting appointment.
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"It's great that Michael is coming back to the
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ and he will enjoy the full support of the whole organisation."
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Michael Grade said: "This
is quite a day for me.
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"Apart from my obvious pride and delight, I also
feel my experience has prepared me to step into the role at a difficult
moment in the Corporation's history.
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"I would like to thank those
who appointed me for having the courage to break the mould.
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"I would also like to pay tribute to my predecessor,
Gavyn Davies, who gave so much to support the ideals of the Corporation
and who showed great courage and dignity in the manner of his departure.
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"The editorial independence
of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ is paramount in maintaining the support of the viewers and
listeners. Without it, there is no point to the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½.
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"It is my job, and the job of the whole board,
to ensure that the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ can continue to earn public and parliamentary
support so that the provision of universally available, value for money,
public service broadcasting is neither jeopardised nor marginalised.
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"Nothing must be allowed
to deprive our children and our grandchildren of the rich experience
we have come to expect and enjoy these past decades from the British
Broadcasting Corporation."
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Notes to Editors
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1. Michael Grade will take up his post as Chairman on
17 May 2004. Until then, Richard Ryder will remain Acting Chairman.
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As made clear in a statement issued on 31 March, Richard
will then serve as Vice-Chairman under Michael Grade until later in
the year when he will retire from the Board.
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2. Gavyn Davies OBE was appointed on 19 September 2001
for a five year period from 1 October 2001. He resigned from the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½
on 28 January 2004.
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3. The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ and Michael Grade have agreed to suspend
the process for the appointment of the Director-General until Michael
Grade takes up his position as Chairman.
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4. Michael Grade has had a long and distinguished career
including leading roles in commercial television, the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½, film and
the leisure industries.
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He became Head of Entertainment and Director of Programmes
at London Weekend Television in 1973, moved to the USA to become President
of Embassy Television in 1981, joined the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ as Controller ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½-1 in
1984 and became its Director of Programmes, Television in 1986.
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He then spent nine years from 1988 as Chief Executive
of Channel 4 Television.
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In 1997 he joined First Leisure Corporation, first
as Executive Chairman and then as Chief Executive until 1999.
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He is Executive Chairman of Pinewood and Shepperton
Studios, Chairman of Hemscott plc and, since 2002, Chairman of the Camelot
Group, operators of the National Lottery.
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He is a non-executive director of the Scottish Media
Group, interim Chair of the Television Corporation, Chairman of the
Royal National Theatre's Development Council, a member of the Council
of the Royal Albert Hall, and a trustee of the National Film and Television
School and of the World Wide Fund for Nature.
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He is also a director of the Gate Theatre in Dublin,
Chairman of Index on Censorship and is on the Board of Charlton Athletic
Football Club.
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5. He will be resigning from the Boards of Camelot,
SMG and the Television Corporation before 17 May, as well as from a
number of other commercial and pro bono appointments.
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He will retain his non-executive chairmanship of Pinewood
Shepperton and the Chairmanship of Hemscott Group Plc.
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A list of these and any other commitments and his investments
will be disclosed in full to the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Secretary and the DCMS.
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A system will be put in place for dealing with any
conflict, real or perceived. The Vice-Chairman is always available to
take over the item in question.
Background
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The Board of Governors
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The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ is a Corporation established under successive
Royal Charters. Its current Charter runs to December 2006 and sets out
its public obligations.
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ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ services are regulated by a separate Agreement under
the Charter which recognises the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s editorial independence.
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The corporation receives most of its income from the
television licence fee.
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Twelve Governors are appointed by the Queen in Council
on the advice of Ministers to ensure that the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ fulfils its obligations.
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They are men and women with a wide range of experience
and interests in public service and the arts, business and industry.
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All are part-time non-executives. They meet monthly
and hold the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s managers to account for their performance against
agreed strategy and objectives.
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The Communications Act 2003 maintained the role of the
Board of Governors, their core responsibilities being:
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• interpreting the Charter and setting the strategy
to deliver the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s remit and responsibilities
• upholding and protecting the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s political and editorial independence
• assessing the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s performance against remit and objectives
• calling management to account.
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The Role of the Chairman
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Key skills and qualities required for the post (as defined
by DCMS):
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• proven senior experience at chair level
• strong leadership, vision and strategic skills
• highly developed communication skills and credibility to act
as an effective link between the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½, Government and Parliament
• an appreciation of the public interest in relation to broadcasting
issues
• an understanding of the role of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Goverors, and an ability
to work constructively with a range of people and organisations in the
public and private sectors
• experience of the management of a large and complex public service
or commercial undertaking
• knowledge of statutory requirements with regard to broadcasting.
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Salary currently £81,320 per annum, for the equivalent
of four days a week.
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