The board of media and telecoms regulator Ofcom has appointed Dame Melanie Dawes as its new chief executive.
Dame Melanie has been Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government since 2015 and will take up her new position in early March.
She began her career as an economist and spent 15 years at the Treasury, including as Europe Director. In addition, Dame Melanie chairs the Civil Service People Board, leading workforce strategies across all government departments. She is also Civil Service champion for diversity and inclusion.
The appointment comes as the government prepares to extend the regulator’s remit to include online services.
DCMS Secretary of State Nicky Morgan commented: “I congratulate Dame Melanie Dawes on her appointment as chief executive of Ofcom. Melanie’s experience leading organisations through change will be vital as the Government today announces it is minded to appoint the organisation as regulator for new online harms laws.”
The new remit means the government now wants a new chair in place who would be able to oversee the changes. Lord Burns has agreed to step down, but has agreed to stay on until a new chair has been appointed.
Dame Sharon White stood down as chief executive of Ofcom last November. She is now chair of the retailer John Lewis.
