So who could replace Richard Sharp as BBC chairman? The runners and riders who might take ex-Tory donor’s role at the corporation after he quit
- The runners and riders to replace Richard Sharp as BBC chair after he resigned
BBC chairman Richard Sharp has resigned from his position after a report found he had breached the corporation’s impartiality rules by failing to disclose a loan he made to Boris Johnson.
Mr Sharp announced he will stand down at the end of June to avoid being a ‘distraction’ to the corporation following a review by Adam Heppinstall KC into his appointment.
Many are now speculating over who will replace Mr Sharp as chairman, with a widespread assumption that the next appointment will be non-political to avoid further controversy over bias.
Read here for MailOnline’s full list of the potential successors who could be the next BBC chairman:
Richard Sharp resigned as chairman of the BBC after a report found he had breached the corporation’s impartiality rules by failing to disclose a loan he made to Boris Johnson
Sir Damon Buffini
A leading contender to follow Mr Sharp is the BBC’s deputy chairman and chairman of its commercial board Sir Damon Buffini.
Sir Damon previously worked in private equity and has served on the boards of companies including Hugo Boss and the Royal Shakespeare Company, and is currently is the chair of the Royal National Theatre.
He also headed the £2 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help rescue the country’s cultural organisations during the pandemic.
The deputy chair’s career has not been without controversy, as job cuts he implemented at firms including the AA saw him clash with unions.
Sir Damon Buffini previously worked in private equity and has served on the boards of companies including Hugo Boss and the Royal Shakespeare Company
George Osborne
Former Conservative chancellor George Osborne was previously suggested as a favourite to take over as BBC chair before Mr Sharp was appointed in 2021.
After leaving government following David Cameron’s resignation as Prime Minister, Mr Osborne became the editor of the Evening Standard from 2017 to 2020.
He is currently the chair of the British Museum, a role he has held since 2021, and is the chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership.
After leaving government following David Cameron’s resignation as Prime Minister, George Osborne became the editor of the Evening Standard
Charles Moore
Another possible successor is the former editor of the Daily Telegraph and The Spectator Charles Moore.
He still writes regularly for both publications and is also known for his authorised biography of Margaret Thatcher.
Mr Moore was given a peerage in July 2020 and made a member of the House of Lords.
Floated as a potential BBC chair in 2020, he reportedly ruled himself out of the running at the time.
Former editor of The Daily Telegraph and The Spectator Charles Moore was previously suggested as a possible BBC chairman
Sir Robbie Gibb
Former journalist Sir Robbie Gibb had a 25-year career at the BBC before spending two years in Downing Street as communications director under Theresa May.
After leaving politics, Sir Robbie wrote articles criticising the broadcaster, including accusing its staff of being ‘woke’.
He was knighted in Mrs May’s resignations honours list in 2019 and joined the BBC board in May 2021.
In 2021, Labour called for him to be sacked from the board after claims he tried to block of the appointment of Jess Brammar as head of the corporation’s news channels on political grounds.
Sir Robbie Gibb had a 25-year career at the BBC before spending two years in Downing Street as communications director under Theresa May
Muriel Gray
Muriel Gray is one of the BBC board’s non-executive directors and its member for Scotland.
Starting her career as a broadcaster, Ms Gray first came to public attention as a host of Channel 4’s popular music programme The Tube, and also appeared on BBC Radio 1 and Radio 4 in the 80s.
Ms Gray became the first female rector of the University of Edinburgh from 1988 to 1991 and has published a series of horror novels, including The Trickster and Furnace.
Starting her career as a broadcaster, Mureil Gray first came to public attention as a host of Channel 4’s popular music programme The Tube
Sir Nicholas Serota
Sir Nicholas Serota is a member of the BBC board and spent almost 30 years as the director of the Tate galleries.
He is also the chairman of Arts Council England, a post he took up in February 2017.
The body has faced criticism for introducing a new funding programme resulting in grant reductions to parts of the opera world and theatres including the Donmar Warehouse.
Academy-award winner Sir Sam Mendes was among those who protested against the move.
Sir Nicholas Serota is a member of the BBC board and spent almost 30 years as the director of the Tate galleries
Shumeet Banerji
Non-executive BBC board member Shummeet Banerji is also on the board of one of India’s largest mobile networks Reliance Industries.
He is also the founder of Concordet, LP – a firm which works on early development opportunities for tech companies.
In 2018, Mr Banerji rejected concerns over the spread of misinformation on messaging platform WhatsApp as ‘metropolitan condescension’.
Shumeet Banerji is the founder of Concordet, LP – a firm which works on early development opportunities for tech companies
Shirley Garrood
Another non-executive board member, Shirley Garrood was previously chief financial officer of Henderson Group PLC, a FTSE 250 company.
Currently a board member of mutual insurance company Royal London, Ms Garrood has also served as chairwoman of the audit committeee at Esure Group PLC.
A graduate of the University of Bristol in Economics and Accounting, she has also worked as a governor at the Peabody housing association.
Another non-executive board member, Shirley Garrood was previously chief financial officer of Henderson Group PLC
Dame Elan Closs Stephens
Dame Elan Closs Stephens is a leading academic at the University of Aberystwyth where she serves as pro chancellor and specialises in cultural and broadcasting policy.
She has also worked as the governor of the British Film Institute and chair of the Welsh language broadcaster S4C.
A native Welsh speaker, Dame Elan is a non-executive member on the BBC board and the member for Wales.
Dame Elan Closs Stephens is a leading academic at the University of Aberystwyth where she serves as pro chancellor
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