Economist Terry Burns has been selected as the Government’s preferred candidate to be the new chair of Ofcom.
The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee will now hold a pre-appointment hearing with Lord Burns on 13 December 2017.
Lord Burns spent six years as the chair of Channel 4 to 2015 and left at a time when the Government was considering the broadcaster’s privatisation. He opposed the move and it’s believed the government vetoed a proposal from Ofcom for him to remain in the post.
He is a senior Adviser to Banco Santander and a non-executive member of the Office for Budget Responsibility. He is also a member of the House of Lords Economic Affairs Select Committee and Chairman of the Lord Speaker’s Committee on the Size of the House.
Outgoing chair Patricia Hodgson completes her term on December 31, 2017.
