Press release

Preferred candidate selected for BBC Trust Chairman

Following an open recruitment exercise, Lord Patten, has been selected as Government's preferred candidate

From:
Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP
Published
20 May 2012
This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The former Governor of Hong Kong, former Government Minister and currently Chancellor of Oxford University, has been selected as Government’s preferred candidate for appointment to the role of Chairman of the BBC Trust, in succession to Sir Michael Lyons.

The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport has written to John Whittingdale OBE MP, Chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee. The Committee will hold a pre-appointment hearing with Lord Patten on 10 March.  

The Committee’s conclusions will be considered carefully before deciding whether or not to proceed with the appointment.

Notes to Editors

  1. The appointment of the BBC Trust Chair will be made on merit and a fair, open and transparent process, regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
  2. The OCPA Code of Practice.
  3. Under the terms of the BBC Royal Charter, appointment of the BBC Trust chair and members is made by HM the Queen on recommendation from Ministers (the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, through the Prime Minister).
  4. The term of the current chair, Sir Michael Lyons, ends on 30 April.
  5. Lord Patten has informed the DCMS that he will not undertake any interviews in advance of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee hearing.

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Updates to this page

Published 20 May 2012