Dame Elan Closs Stephens named new BBC chair in place of Richard Sharp

2023-06-02

Dame Elan Closs Stephens named as acting BBC chairwoman after Richard Sharp was forced to quit over links to Boris Johnson

She was among BBC execs who conducted a review into Mr Sharp’s conduct
Sharp quit after failing to disclose role in helping Johnson get £800,000 loan

A new acting chairwoman of the BBC was appointed today to replace Richard Sharp.

Dame Elan Closs Stephens will take over following his decision to resign over revelations of his role in helping Boris Johnson organise a personal loan before he was handed the job by the former prime minister.

Dame Elan was one of three non-executive members of the BBC board’s nominations committee that conducted a review into Mr Sharp’s conduct.

While it concluded there were ‘no concerns in respect of the chairman’s integrity’ while in the role, it noted the ‘relevant declarations should have been made at the outset of his tenure’, to ‘avoid any potential perceived conflicts of interest’.

Today, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced Dame Elan will lead the BBC board from June 27 for 12 months, or until a new permanent chair has been appointed, whichever is sooner.

In April, Mr Sharp stepped down as chairman of the corporation after being found to have broken the rules by failing to disclose he played a role in getting then-prime minister Boris Johnson an £800,000 loan guarantee.

Dame Elan has been a member of the BBC’s governing body since 2010, first serving as member for Wales on the BBC Trust and then as the Welsh member of the BBC board.

Following her appointment, Dame Elan said: ‘It’s a huge honour to be appointed by the Secretary of State as acting chair and I am grateful to my fellow board members for putting their trust in me.

‘As a board, we will champion the licence fee-payer across all of the UK; ensure the BBC is a vital partner for the UK creative industries; maintain trust and drive change to make the BBC fit for a fast changing media landscape.

‘There is much work to be done.’

Dame Elan’s other work with broadcasters includes serving for two terms as chairwoman of Welsh-language broadcaster S4C between 1998 and 2006.

In a statement, the BBC board – which was consulted before the appointment in line with the corporation’s Royal Charter – said: ‘Elan has been an active and distinguished member of the BBC board who has brought huge energy and drive to her role as member for Wales.

‘We are delighted that she is taking up the role as acting chair – she is the ideal choice.’

Under the BBC’s Charter an acting chairperson must be an existing non-executive director on the BBC board.

Source: Read Full Article