The Technology Secretary has confirmed Sir Ian Cheshire as the new chair of communications regulator Ofcom.
The appointment, announced by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, follows a pre-appointment hearing before Parliament’s Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, which endorsed his selection while urging him to deepen his understanding of the online safety landscape.
Sir Ian succeeds Michael Grade, whose term ended in April, and takes over a regulator whose responsibilities now span broadcasting, telecommunications and online platforms.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said Ofcom had “never had a more important role to play” as it oversees enforcement of online safety rules while supporting growth and innovation across the communications sector.
The government said Sir Ian had committed to ensuring Ofcom is guided by the experiences of people most exposed to online harms and translates that insight into effective regulatory action.
In a statement, Sir Ian said he was taking on the role at a “vital time” as Ofcom begins tackling the challenges of online safety while continuing its traditional oversight of telecoms and broadcasting markets.
The appointment places a familiar figure from the media industry at the helm of the regulator. Sir Ian served as chair of Channel 4 between 2022 and 2025 and previously led Kingfisher plc as chief executive. He has also held senior positions at Barclays UK and Land Securities.
For broadcasters and telecom operators, the appointment comes at a time when Ofcom is overseeing major industry changes, including the transition towards IP-delivered television, spectrum policy, broadband investment and media plurality issues.
The regulator is also facing increasing scrutiny over its implementation of the Online Safety Act, with Parliament and industry stakeholders closely watching how it balances consumer protection, platform accountability and innovation.
The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee recently described the appointment as coming at a “critical moment” for the regulator, while calling for clear performance metrics to measure Ofcom’s effectiveness under its new leadership.
